Smith spoke for the first time on Ballarat radio Monday morning about contract negotiation breakdowns between FitzGerald, a club premiership coach, and the Roosters last week. This follows the club’s official press statement that its final two coaching candidates fell through – one was Rebels coach David Loader, who accepted a job with AFL club North Melbourne, “the other”, which was Fitzgerald but not named by the club, “did not accept the offer put to him by the club."

Smith detailed a clearly timed and documented unfolding of events and put it to listeners to make up their minds on which party was making a rejection.

Smith said he had believed he was entering contract negotiations when the club gave FitzGerald an initial offer last Tuesday morning. Instead, he says he blindly bargaining because “in a bargain somebody always loses. Someone is forced to accept something that they’re not happy in accepting.” 

The initial offer was a 12 month deal with 12 month option, subject to performance appraisal and both parties’ agreement. Smith put forward a counter-offer on FitzGerald’s behalf to Roosters chief executive officer Mark Patterson in a meeting on Wednesday afternoon. This included an option to forfeit FitzGerald’s extra annual leave entitlement for working weekends – Smith said that was indicative of Fitzgerald’s passion for the club, not someone who would reject an offer.

Smith said the club withdrew its initial offer shortly after 5pm on Wednesday and shortly after 7am on Thursday received a text message that “at the board meeting last night consideration of your counter offer was not supported.”

Smith has extensive coach management and contract negotiation experience in AFL level. He said was left gob-smacked by how this process unfolded.

When questioned by 3BA’s The Big Show host Paul Taylor was the North Ballarat Football Club holding FitzGerald to ransom, Smith’s reply was: “Absolutely. How dare he (FitzGerald) have the temerity to query even though we were asked in the initial email ‘we need to reach agreement, please contact me for any queries following your consideration of this offer.’ Nothing could be clearer.”

Smith said it was unclear whether the board’s response to knock back the counter offer because it was not supported meant the offer was not considered at all or whether it was considered and not supported.

“People can draw their own conclusions as to which party rejected which offer, which party was genuinely trying to find a win-win negotiatied settlement here,” Smith said.

The board announced in June it would not extend FitzGerald’s contract beyond 2015. FitzGerald coached out the 2015 Victorian Football League season.

FitzGerald reapplied for the head coaching role and was shortlisted by a panel that featured AFL premiership coach and North Ballarat hall of famer Mick Malthouse.

Smith said his client was finished with the club.

“Absolutely. They’ve made their decision and they have a right to make their decision, I have no issue with that, it’s the way they’ve done it that I have issue with,” Smith said.

The Courier is seeking a response from the North Ballarat Football Club.