Perth Glory legend Jamie Harnwell has described being asked to re-apply for his job as W-League coach as "a kick in the guts", prompting the former player to cut his ties with the Western Australian club.
Glory last week took over control of the their women's side, who had been previously run by Football West, the state's governing body. Harnwell was coach for four years and took the side to last season's W-League Grand Final after winning the Premiers' Plate.
"I'm not going to apply, I've had enough of being treated like this, really," Harnwell told The West Australian.
"As much as I'm disappointed to leave the girls and not be involved again, I've got too much pride and professionalism to do something like that. It's been 17 years that I've been involved with the club in some capacity or another and to be treated like this, I've had enough."
Just a few months earlier, Harnwell was considered a coaching genius after guiding the team to a record W-League points tally as they become the first club to win the first six games of the season.
But Harnwell, who played 256 games for Perth Glory in the A-League and National Soccer League over 13 years, added that he had been left with no other choice but to walk away.
17 years of association with Glory has come to an end this week. Time to look for a new challenge. Thanks for all the messages of support!
— Jamie Harnwell (@JamieHarnwell) July 8, 2015
He was shocked when he received an email early last week from Glory, inviting him to reapply for his position for the coming season.
"From the age of 21, the club has pretty much consumed me... it was incredible what we achieved on the park last season," he said.
"[But] I've got no real feeling or passion for the club at all now. It's all sort of wiped away, which is a shame given the history I've got with it."
Harnwell added that be believed that comments he made last year about Glory's A-League salary cap woes may have affected his chances of staying on as W-League coach.
Another Perth Glory icon Bobby Despotovski has been touted as a possible candidate to take over from Harnwell, with the W-League job advertised on Glory's website since the end of last week.