The replacement of Sunbury premiership coach Adam Boldiston has prompted a mass exodus from several senior players.
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Suzie Johnson, Ash Hardy, Tarryn Munro, Amanda Cusack, Ruth Smith and Elly Randall have left the Lions ahead of the 2020 Ballarat Football Netball league season.
It comes after Johnson accused the club of organising Boldiston's replacement during the 2019 campaign.
However, club president Hedley Duhau insisted the decision was made after the season ended.
Johnson, who served as netball coordinator, had arranged for Boldiston to stay on as coach in 2020, and had no idea the club was appointing someone else.
She said all six players left the club in support of Boldiston.
"We'd had end of season drinks and then rumors started spreading and coaches and presidents from outer leagues, who already knew he wasn't getting re-appointed, started chasing him," she said.
"Once I knew it was done behind my back and my decision wasn't heard, I opted to leave."
After coaching the club's A-grade squad to the best home and away record for two straight years, Boldiston was replaced by Luke Marko-Rawlings.
The Lions won 15 games in 2019 before losing to North Ballarat City in the preliminary final.
"It was a good fit, a good team and everyone got along well," Johnson said.
"We all worked our butts off, and as much as you want that premiership, everything has to go right to get there."
Duhau said the club had no issue with Boldiston's on-court results, saying the decision to replace him was based around the program's direction.
"We knew that we may take a step back in regards to on-court results, but sometimes that needs to happen," he said.
"We were more focused on addressing some of the culture issues and moving forward for the long term of the club.