THE COACHING tenure of Matthew Primus is believed to be over, with former Adelaide ruckman Shaun Rehn expected to take over as Port Adelaide caretaker coach.??
News on Monday morning was conflicting, with The Age suggesting that Primus had walked out on Sunday night after being told he would not coach next year, while The Advertiser reported he had been told he would not be in charge in 2013 but had been offered the chance to coach out the season.
An announcement from the club, which has kept its counsel, is expected on Monday morning.
Rehn spoke to AFL.com.au on Sunday afternoon, admitting he had tried to contact Primus, but that he was unable to shed any light on his supposed new job.??
"I can't really help you mate, I know as much as you do … I can't get onto him (Primus) either," Rehn said on Sunday.??
Rehn is an assistant coach at the Power.??
Power officials are understood to have met on Sunday afternoon to discuss Primus' future following the Power's humiliating loss to GWS on Saturday.
The club told AFL.com.au it would not be making any announcement on Sunday, but a report in The Age suggested Primus had 'walked' after being told he would not be offered a third year as coach.
Primus signed a two-year deal with the Power in 2010, with the option of a third if the club agreed to it. ??
Primus has achieved an 8-32 record in his two full seasons at the helm.?
The 37-year-old, a foundation player with Port, choked back tears in the press conference after Saturday's match, describing the defeat as the club's "lowest point".
He reiterated his desire to coach the side into next year, but conceded the decision was not his to make.
Asked if the result had hurt his chances of coaching the Power into next year, he glumly replied: "I can't answer that. It's not for me to answer. We'll find out I suppose."
It would be a sour ending to a coaching career that started relatively brightly and with limited resources.
Primus was pitched into the caretaker role in 2010 when premiership-winning predecessor Mark Williams quit, saying his position had become untenable.
Port initially played with passion that had previously been lacking - a nine-game losing streak ended and the club won five of their final six games.
The club's board were so impressed they opted to employ Primus full-time ahead of Chris Scott, who instead headed to Geelong and won a premiership in his first season.
Meanwhile, Primus started a rebuilding phase that failed to gather much traction in two seasons and - by his own admission - was reduced to rubble by Saturday's loss.
"I've said all year we've improved, now that sounds hollow," Primus said after the game.
"And it makes you feel sick saying that.
"The group have come along in leaps and bounds since last year, but today just wipes all that out."
Port Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi said after the match the players stood behind Primus.
"It's really shattering. Matty has our total support," Cassisi said.??
"Me saying that doesn't have much substance with the way we played today as a group, but it comes down to us as a playing group.??
"We need to lift."
