COACH Simon Goodwin has reiterated that he has no issues at all with his playing group.  

Speaking on 1116 SEN, Goodwin said it was disappointing to hear the rumours that followed, regarding his future and his relationship with his players, after the club’s pre-Christmas camp was cancelled.

He said the club had moved on long ago.

“I was disappointed because it has been such a big story, but such a small piece over our journey over the summer,” he said.

“It was a bit insulting in that regard … I would never hold a grudge like that.

“We grew, we made a decision together and we move forward together. We respect our players and how they feel and how we go about our business.”

Goodwin said it was “insulting” and “laughable” to suggest he was stepping down as coach, after the camp was cancelled.

“That was a rumour and I think we do need to be really careful in this industry, when rumours go around, because they actually become folklore over time. That was so far from the truth it wasn’t funny,” he said. 

“That was disappointing but at the same time, I understand how these things grow. They spread quickly. They grow from rumour to folklore and then they become a part of what the story becomes.

“I’m fully committed to this playing group and club. We are building something pretty unique and special.”

Goodwin added that there was no link whatsoever with personnel being left out of the side, due to their concerns over the camp.

“I heard those reports and it was laughable. We dealt with that camp four months earlier. It all went down on a Friday and by the Monday we had moved on as a footy club,” he said.

“We had addressed it with the players, we had spoken about the learnings of the club, from a leadership group, from a coaching and from a medical perspective.

“Every scenario from that camp, there were learnings to be had. Selection, that was completely laughable.

“I have great relationships with all those players and there is certainly no feeling or ill feeling towards a really small piece in our puzzle of building what we want to build as a footy club.”