16 May, 07 5:26 pm
MAY 21, 2000. EAST Fremantle coach and former West Coast player Ian Downsborough was sacked last night after he refused to take the season one week at a time.
Downsborough was called before the East Fremantle Board after enthusiastically looking forward to a match against West Perth that is scheduled for Saturday fortnight.
“The situation was out of control,” said East Fremantle President, Ernie Anchor. “I mean, it was only a matter of time before he (Downsborough) decided the team WASN’T only as good as its last performance.”
Downsborough was unrepentant last night, claiming his side would walk through the next couple of rounds, so that the West Perth game would be a beauty. “I don’t think football is a funny game and I don’t think it’s true that tall players don’t get shorter late in the game,” he said.
The sacked coach is considering his prospects today, with another senior coaching berth appearing to be only a remote possibility, especially while he continues to deny the existence of a central corridor.
