Sacked Matildas coach Alen Stajcic says his treatment has been “unjustifiable” and “reprehensible”.

In his first radio interview since being ousted as national team, Stajcic admits he is reluctantly seeking legal advice.

The FFA fired him without warning or explanation on January 19, other than saying a “toxic team culture” had been made apparent by a confidential player survey.

In an emotional media conference on Monday, the distraught coach tearfully admitted, “my career is in tatters and my reputation is ruined” and said he has never been told why he was sacked.

FFA Chairman Chris Nikous hit back with a statement (full statement below) claiming “a change was needed”.

“We disagree with many of his assertions and were surprised by a number of his comments,” says Mr Nikous.

“Mr Stajcic knows that the team environment, contrary to today’s comments, was not satisfactory.”

Stajcic joined Alan Jones in the studio, openly answering a range of questions.

Jones: Have you ever received a warning or a strike over your behaviour?

Stajcic: Never

Jones: Have you ever been disciplined?

Stajcic: Never

Jones: Have you ever been reprimanded?

Stajcic: Never

Stajcic tells Alan Jones he was warned last year about a plot to get rid of him.

“Yes. Look, there has been that undercurrent for a fairly lengthy period of time however that’s something that I really can’t go into at the moment.”

Click PLAY below for the full interview

FFA Statement in response to Alen Stajcic

Chris Nikou, the Chairman of the Football Federation Australia (FFA) said today “The FFA’s Board notes Mr Stajcic’s comments this morning. We disagree with many of his assertions and were surprised by a number of his comments. Indeed Mr Stajcic, by his own admission and in the presence of an FFA lawyer and the FFA CEO David Gallop, said that the team environment was ‘dysfunctional’ and was ‘always going to be this way’. In those circumstances we decided to act in time to put the team’s FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign back on track. It’s the Board’s duty to make these decisions.

“We have been 100% focused on the immediate and long-term well-being of our team and staff. Our decision to act was driven out of care and concern for our players and people. It was and remains our sole motivation. Any suggestions to the contrary are incorrect.

“Nothing Mr Stajcic said today changes the facts, that built up over time, that informed the FFA’s decision to legally terminate his employment as Coach of the Matildas. The FFA reached a unanimous view that Mr Stajcic was no longer the right person to enable the Matildas to perform at their best – on and off the pitch. Coaching contracts generally contain provisions to deal with situations where the Board determines there needs to be a change of coach. They do so by providing for a pre-agreed payment to be made in lieu of notice which is what occurred here.

David Gallop, FFA Chief Executive Officer said “We are not going to get into a point by point debate that further distracts the team. Mr Stajcic knows that the team environment, contrary to today’s comments, was not satisfactory. A change was needed. We are also mindful that the people who participated in the review processes, including the surveys and other information gathered, did so on a confidential basis. We will not breach those commitments to players and staff.

“We appreciate and acknowledge Mr Stajcics’ best wishes for the team and the players and it was never our intent to cause him or his family distress. It was a decision based on the best outcome for the players and staff.

“Our focus is on the recruitment of the new coach of the Matildas. We will be announcing the new coach in the coming weeks.”