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Adelaide Crows sack coach Brenton Sanderson after missing out on AFL finals

The Adelaide Crows have surprisingly sacked AFL coach Brenton Sanderson, following a review of the club's entire football operation.

Adelaide finished 10th this season to miss out on a finals place, having finished 11th in 2013 after making the preliminary final in 2012.

Sanderson, 40, had been contracted to remain at the club until the end of the 2016 season, but his tenure was cut short after three years in charge.

"Brenton is a quality person and accomplished coach, but recent weeks have unearthed a need for change," club chairman Rob Chapman said in a statement.

"Both parties have realised they have different perspectives on where we are at as a footy team.

"It is a tough decision but one the club feels pushes us closer to realising our ambitions.

"We would like to thank Brenton for his contribution and wish him every success."

Sanderson took over as head coach in 2012 - taking his team to within a goal of the grand final - and coached 39 wins from 69 matches, a success rate of 56 per cent, the best of any coach at the Crows.

The club says it is embarking on a nation-wide search to find Sanderson's successor.

Adelaide players have reportedly heavily criticised Sanderson and some of his support staff in post-season interviews.

Current Essendon coach Mark Thompson and Bombers assistant coach Simon Goodwin are reportedly the leading candidates to replace Sanderson.

The move comes shortly after the Crows announced ex-rugby manager Andrew Fagan as their new chief executive officer, replacing Carlton-bound CEO Stephen Trigg.