Bendigo Bombers chairman David Joss today announced that senior coach Shannon Grant would be suspended from match day coaching for the next two weeks.

Grant was detained by police over the weekend for being intoxicated in a public place.

“We take our responsibility of developing young players and people very seriously and Shannon has clearly compromised that over the weekend,” Joss said.

“We wanted to send a very clear message to Shannon and the whole organisation about what is acceptable and the responsibility we have to the Bendigo community as a whole.

“Shannon is deeply embarrassed by what has occurred and accepts the club’s sanction.""

The coaching responsibility for the next two weeks will be shared between Bendigo assistant coach Hayden Skipworth as well as Essendon assistant coaches Gary O’Donnell, Alan Richardson and Ashley Prescott.

Grant will complete his normal weekly duties as senior coach of the Bendigo Bombers and will attend match day as a spectator.
 
Shannon Grant said the following in his Bendigo Advertiser column today:
 

In football we constantly tell our young players that life is about choices and that you need to make the most of opportunities or they pass you by.

 

This is a message I should have paid more attention to myself last weekend, after I made some poor choices and was detained by Police after having too much to drink.

 

It would be an understatement to say that I am embarrassed and disappointed regarding this incident.

 

I feel I have let many people down and I want to say sorry to the Bendigo Bombers Football Club, Essendon Football Club and the Police for any inconvenience I have caused.

 

I would also like to apologise to all the business partners that provide the Bendigo Bombers with such great support and the supporters of the club.

 

On the night in question I had too many drinks following the interleague game in Bendigo and was detained after accidentally locking myself out of my hotel room.

 

This is unacceptable behaviour for anyone who has a leadership role and I will be talking to my players about the poor example I have set.

 

Some people might think I am being overly dramatic but I take my responsibility as a role model and teacher to the players very seriously and I have let them down with my behaviour.

 

There are no excuses, I simply made a poor decision. I made a mistake and I will be working very hard to ensure it never happens again.

 

As I said at the start of this column, life is a matter of choices. I made the wrong one and will be doing everything in my power to earn the trust and respect back from my colleagues and the playing group I coach.