Mark O'Meara believes a ``hidden agenda'' from Rumbalara's executive committee led to him being dumped as the club's senior coach.
O'Meara, coach since last year, said he was virtually sacked as coach without being told specifically by anyone on Rumbalara's committee.
O'Meara said it was when he found out about Rumbalara's plan to lure an ex-AFL player to coach next season, he found out he wouldn't be leading the club for a third term.
``I worked out the club was interviewing people two weeks before the end of the year (regular season),'' O'Meara said yesterday.
``I'd been asking the president (Paul Briggs) and committee about the structures I wanted to put in place for things like recruiting during the off-season.
``After asking a number of times and not getting a positive response that's when I sort of started to work out what was going on.
``There was definitely a hidden agenda there.''
Rumbalara executive Michael Bissell refuted O'Meara's claim he wasn't told he had been stood down as coach.
``That's certainly not the case,'' Bissell said.
Bissell said the club was currently holding a nation-wide search for a new full-time head coach.
``We've interviewed a couple of people and Mark was one of those.
``We're looking for someone to not only coach at a senior level, but also be involved in our junior development programs as well.''
O'Meara led Rumbalara to fourth (13-5) and an elimination final appearance last year.
Rumbalara finished 11th (4-14) this year in a season O'Meara described as a ``mess''.
``There was problems there from the start with the committee wanting players to sign contracts and codes of conduct,'' O'Meara said.
``That resulted in a number of players not coming to training. They were playing underdone because they didn't train and then getting injured.
``It was mainly because of the stuff asked of them from the committee. It was a real mess, hence that's why I wanted to put procedures in place to rectify that for next year.''
O'Meara understands Rumbalara has already held discussions with recently retired West Coast premiership player David Wirrpanda and ex-Melbourne defender Matthew Whelan.
``They (Rumbalara) want profile in their footy club . . . mainly to enhance their chances of getting funding for programs the footy club is involved in,'' O'Meara said.
Bissell said it had always been Rumbalara's preferred approach to appoint a full-time coach.
``We're not like any other football club in that we run a range of programs,'' Bissell said.
``(It means) anyone who is employed by Rumbalara gets involved with the club on a holistic basis.''
O'Meara said he had no angst towards his now former playing group.
``I've got total respect for the players, I'm more disappointed from a coaching point of view that the committee had another agenda and wouldn't come forth to me and tell me,'' O'Meara said.
``They were working behind my back, but that's purely their choice.''
O'Meara hopes to fulfil an assistant coaching role under Steve Daniel at Congupna next year.
O'Meara's son Brayden will play for Congupna's under-17 side.