Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has a “clear conscience” about his alleged involvement within the Hawthorn racism saga and hasn’t felt the necessity to handle Brisbane gamers on the scandal that rocked the AFL.
The total Lions squad returned to coaching on Monday below Fagan’s steering on the membership’s new Springfield base, with the cloud of the AFL’s impending investigation into allegations of racism on the Hawks throughout the Brisbane coach’s time on the membership.
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The involvement of then Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson and Fagan, at that stage part of the Hawks’ soccer division, is a key issue within the investigation, with the pair intent on clearing their names of alleged poor therapy of First Nations gamers and their households.
Fagan fronted the media for the primary time because the revelations and stated that final Friday he signed a confidentiality settlement stopping him from discussing the investigation.
Nevertheless, the veteran coach was assured he could be cleared of any wrongdoing.
“I deny the allegations backwards – I launched an announcement (in September) and I stand by that,” Fagan stated.
“I’ve signed a confidentiality deed ballot, and I’m not going to play this out in public.
“I’m simply patiently ready for my alternative to talk on the investigation. You’d prefer it to occur sooner moderately than later, however I’ve simply acquired to be affected person and get on with work.”
Fagan admitted when the racism allegations in opposition to him first emerged, he was not sure “whether or not it was OK to stroll down the road”.
“However after some time I realised you may’t stay like that, so I’ve simply been residing usually since that cut-off date,” he stated.
“I’ve acquired a really clear conscience. They are saying {that a} clear conscience is a superb sedative and I’m sleeping nicely.”
Fagan was equally as assured in regards to the help and belief being proven in him by the Lions’ taking part in group.
“The group’s all the time been supportive of me whatever the scenario I discovered myself in,” he stated.
“They’re that type of group. They give the impression of being after one another and so they take care of the individuals who take care of him, so the previous few months has been no exception to that.
“I haven’t spoken to the group about it. I haven’t felt the necessity to do this.
“The gamers, I‘ve labored with them for six years, and so they belief me, so there’s been no want for a dialog.”
Nevertheless, Fagan stated he had spoken to some gamers individually once they had requested for a “chat” with him.
“They’re personal,” he stated of his talks with sure gamers.
