Gordon Gibbons feels "gutted" by the way the New Zealand
Rugby League dumped him as the Kiwis' manager.
Gibbons, who was manager of the 2008 World Cup-winning team,
has been replaced by NZRL football manager Tony Kemp, Truth
Weekender reported today.
Gibbons, who works fulltime for the Auckland Rugby League,
told the newspaper he was taken by surprise when NZRL chief
executive Jim Doyle told him of the change.
"Obviously I'm hugely disappointed and gutted," Gibbons said.
He said that following the Kiwis' early exit from the Four
Nations tournament, the NZRL ran an analysis of the tour.
"What they found - which I found quite offensive - was the
Kiwi manager was not NZRL-based and not privy to what goes
on," Gibbons said.
"So they removed me and replaced me with Tony.
"My concern is the game is all about pathways for coaches,
managers and trainers.
"So what they have done is said if you don't work for the
NZRL, you can't be Kiwis manager.
"What a slap in the face that is for me and for the manager
courses they run.
"I found that insulting."
Gibbons had been the Kiwis' manager during the tail-end of
the 1990s but stepped down in 2006. He returned in 2007 after
Gary Kemble was sacked as coach amid a player revolt.
Doyle said the manager's role had evolved from a part-time
position and under a restructuring the NZRL found it better
to handle things like booking hotels, flights and trainings
from within the NZRL.
"It was hard for someone not inhouse and working fulltime
elsewhere to be able to do it."
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