SACKED Brisbane Lions coach Michael Voss was told by the club's hierarchy six weeks ago they were talking to potential candidates to replace him.
Voss was told on Tuesday morning that his contract would not be renewed beyond this season, and said at a Wednesday media conference that he regretted not having the chance "to see the vision out".
He has decided not to coach out the season and will be replaced by assistant and former Fremantle coach Mark Harvey for the last three games.
Voss, flanked by chairman Angus Johnson and CEO Malcolm Holmes, said he had an inkling his sacking was coming after almost five seasons in the job.
Johnson confirmed the club had spoken to Sydney Swans premiership coach Paul Roos among a number of potential coaching candidates.
Voss said he had "no problem" with the timing of the club's decision and knew they had been investigating other options.
"Certainly there was a process to see where there were other options," Voss said.
"As a result of that, they've got to take some action.
"I was aware of that, that there'd been a discussion.
"Probably the last couple of weeks, the silence has been a bit deafening, I must admit.
"The last couple of weeks [we've] just started to talk about what were the next steps, and it was at that point that I thought this was a possibility."
Johnson refused to elaborate on who else was in the running and said the Lions would not provide "a running commentary" on the coaching issue, but would outline the appointment process in the coming days.
The sacking was a decision made by the Lions' board and one that shocked the club's players, who were in attendance at Wednesday's media conference.
Johnson called Voss at 8.03am on Tuesday morning and told him the board was meeting that morning, which gave the three-time premiership player a strong idea of what was going on.
"I think once the decision has been made, that's the decision," Voss said.
"I'm not the coach that's going to walk out there and fanfare the occasion.
"It's just never been me; I didn't retire that way and I'm not going to coach that way."
Voss said that the person who coached the Lions would need a new level of resourcing, recruiting and trading to be successful.
The club had "made the decision that I am not that person".
Senior Lion Daniel Merrett expressed the players' surprise over the sudden decision.
"We were as shocked as anyone," Merrett told reporters before training at the Gabba on Wednesday morning.
"We're all pretty shattered for Vossy and just shocked by the announcement yesterday."
Voss took over from Leigh Matthews at the end of the 2008 season.
He took the club to the finals in his first season but after an aggressive 2009 trade period that backfired, the Lions have not played in September.
Their best finish since 2009 has been 13th and Voss has a 40 per cent winning record as coach.
The Lions have won eight games this season and sit 13th on the ladder.
Twitter: @AFL_JenPhelan
