The first domino has fallen at Gold Coast with Rodney Eade removed as senior coach late Monday night, with former Essendon premiership player Dean Solomon to lead the Suns for the rest of 2017.
Chief executive Mark Evans told Eade of the club's decision late on Monday evening, after presenting part of his football department review to the board at a specially convened meeting on Monday.
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Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade sacked
Gold Coast have sacked coach Rodney Eade after three disappointing seasons at the helm of the AFL club.
Suns chairman Tony Cochrane said that  "the wins-loss ratio is not what we want it to be, not even close" and while "these are difficult decisions to make", they had to focus on a future under a new senior coach.
"The board asked Mark to do a full evaluation ... of our football department back in mid June," Cochrane said. "Clearly the senior coach was a key component of that review.Â
![Rodney Eade has been sacked as Gold Coast coach.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170810024511im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/r/e/h/p/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gxreha.png/1502173842940.jpg)
"We convened a special meeting of our board very late yesterday ... during the meeting we did agree and come to the conclusion that we would seek a new coach to lead us into our next phase."
Evans said Eade had been "obviously disappointed" when he told him the news after the meeting, having called around to Eade's house where they "shared a glass of wine or two".
"I called around to see Rodney last night to let him know that his contract wasn't to be extended," Evans said.
![Former Essendon premiership player Dean Solomon will take over as interim coach at the Suns.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170810024511im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/r/k/p/y/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gxreha.png/1502173842940.jpg)
"His career to date has been extraordinary, totalling more than 630 games, nearly 260 as a player and 370 as a coach.
"He was very dignified last night, obviously disappointed. He said he didn't agree with the decision but accepted the reality of that.
"We're a better club for having had Rodney here at the Gold Coast Suns."
Evans said he called Solomon on Tuesday morning to ask him to step in as interim coach for the final three matches of the season, beginning with this weekend's clash against the Brisbane Lions.
"He is the best person to galvanise our group ... to try and achieve something that's quite positive for us over the next three weeks," Evans said of Solomon.
Evans and Cochrane were adamant they had not started the search for Eade's replacement.
Current assistant coaches Stewart Dew (Sydney), John Barker (Carlton) and Brett Rattan (Hawthorn) are among the contenders being thrown up to take over from Eade.
Admitting there was an "experience vacuum" at the club, Cochrane would not be drawn on whether they would attempt to lure a veteran coach or take a chance on someone new.
"We honestly have not considered a replacement, I promise you we have not spent a known second of time considering who his replacement may be," Cochrane said.
After spending three years as Collingwood's football and coaching strategist – a role that Mick Malthouse was supposed to fill but refused to do so – Eade accepted the role as Gold Coast coach in late 2014.
But Eade experienced little joy in his three seasons at Metricon Stadium with just 16 wins from 63 matches in charge as he spent most of his time at the club attempting to turn around a terrible culture.
He also had to contend with an extensive injury list for most of his tenure. Most notably Gary Ablett was only available for 34 matches under Eade due to shoulder, knee, calf and hamstring issues.
Ablett has it made it clear that he wants to leave the Suns and return to his former club Geelong.
Eade was due to draw level with legendary Richmond and Melbourne coach Frank 'Checker' Hughes on 378 games this week but, after previous stints at Sydney and the Western Bulldogs, will now remain on 377 games and in 14th place on the all time list.
Retiring Bulldog Matthew Boyd paid tribute to Eade on Tuesday, not only for his influence at the Bulldogs but on Boyd personally.Â
"Without 'Rocket' I probably wouldn't still be playing the game today," Boyd said.
"The guidance and support that he gave to me early in my career, he gave me belief in myself when I probably didn't have any, he gave the group belief that we could achieve something.
"While we didn't achieve the ultimate, during his time he certainly left a legacy that I'll remember forever."
Eade coached 19 finals, including a grand final with the Swans in 1996 and four preliminary finals, and finishes up with a winning percentage of 49.73.
With Ronny Lerner, AAP