Fresh information had proved a "deterioration" within the Matildas camp which meant Alen Stajcic had to be sacked as coach, Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop says.
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But an evasive Gallop has again dodged specifics of why Stajcic was suddenly axed five months before the women's World Cup.
Gallop on Monday met twice with stunned Matildas players and staff but couldn't provide them detailed reasons for the sacking.
Stajcic's axing has divided the Matildas but players didn't push for him to be reinstated according to Gallop.
"There is mixed views, no doubt about that," Gallop told reporters.
"It is for them (players) to talk about that. But yes, there's some that have disappointment and they spoke up today.
"It's not within the power of the players to appoint a coach nor is it in the powers of the players to reinstate a coach."
Surveys by the Professional Footballers Association followed by another from Our Watch, an organisation that tackles abuse and violence against women, led to Stajcic's downfall.
But Gallop again cited confidentiality agreements when refusing to divulge specifics to players.
"Of course there is a curiosity about information and I have reminded them about the confidentiality of the survey work that was done," Gallop said.
"But also reminded them that it's a misconception that the decision ... was solely based on surveys. It was based on a range of reasons and a range of information."
Fresh information in the past week led to the FFA decision, he said, which had evidenced concerns held "in recent months".
"Further information was only available to us in the last week or so," Gallop said.
"These matters are cumulative and there was a real view that things had deteriorated in recent times.
"Then it gets to a critical point where a decision needs to be made."
Arsenal women's coach Joe Montemurro has been linked with the role and Gallop hoped a new coach would be appointed within a fortnight.
The Matildas host a four-nation Cup of Nations starting on February 28.
Gallop denied he and the FFA board had been asleep at the wheel for not confronting the problems sooner.
"We were in a tight time frame so the board took a decision on Friday night with a range of information in front of it to move quickly to put in place a new coach for the Cup of Nations," Gallop said.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that the FFA's head of national performance, Luke Casserly, has been recalled home from the Asian Cup as repercussions from Stajcic's axing begin to mount.
Australian Associated Press
