THE Lautoka Football Association interim panel of coaches vowed to stay in their positions despite a dismissal letter handed to them on Wednesday.
The LFA executives decided to dismiss the interim coaches after citing them for bringing disrepute.
According to LFA secretary Reginald Gounder the interim coaches had breached their working conditions.
He said Peni Finau had not been cleared by the LFA to play the NFL match against Nadi last Saturday due to disciplinary reasons but captained the team.
Gounder said on Tuesday former coach Roblyn Autar was roped in to assist the interim coaches without the knowledge of the executives.
"Players had been threatened to be dropped from the team while the Nigerian players were also threatened to be deported when they failed to train," Gounder said.
"Rumours were spread that Valerio Nawatu was stopped from featuring in the game against Nadi when in fact he had to go to Navua to attend to some urgent personal commitments.
"He is now residing there and has also applied for his release to return to Navua in the next transfer window.
"The interim coaches were not given the right to appoint or suspend any players or team officials. Their appointment was done to provide volunteer services to Lautoka soccer without demands on an interim basis."
Former Lautoka reps including Sam Work, Jeremaia Ladawa, Wally Mausio and Upendran Choy were appointed to the interim panel of coaches to guide the Blues for five games during a council meeting last month.
Their term was extended for two more games.
Former Labasa rep Johnny Williams joined the interim coaches as technical advisor together with Freddy Work as trainer while Mausio failed to join the group.
Yesterday the interim coaches remained adamant about their stand. They also denied the allegations levelled against them.
In a press statement Work said they would only listen to the LFA council which appointed them.
He said a council meeting should be called so they could answer to the allegations.
"We have stuck to our task and maintained the team in the top eight," Work said.
"As for the allegations only two LFA executives attended a meeting with us on Monday where Peni was cleared to play after apologising to the president Shalendra Prasad.
"With Nigerian boys we do not know what they are talking about but we did give them money for food.
"All former players were invited to participate in the coaching roles including Pita Dau, John Monday and Roblyn offered his services at no cost.
"As for Nawatu we called the president to answer to this and he stated that certain individuals had paid Nawatu to sort out his family problems and was to resume training on Monday but failed to do so.
"Many top coaches have come to Lautoka and left quickly or were terminated and only to give excellent results for other teams.
"Surely all the top coaches in Fiji are not wrong so something is not right in Lautoka soccer. These very coaches are praising the performance of this current Lautoka team and the panel of coaches for the excellent work done in the short time.
"We have built a young team that is playing good constructive soccer and believe Lautoka has more than enough young players who can be developed to be great and true Lautoka players.
"Lautoka secondary schools have won and dominated the Fiji Secondary Schools competition in the last four years and yet the current administration brings in players who have no loyalty for the district.
"They deprive these young players of their right to represent Lautoka and are now performing well for their adopted districts.
"Lautoka is known for developing and producing great players including Josaia Tubuna, Onnie Wong, Vilitati Lee, Kavaia Nabarusi, Nicholas Rounds, Ernest Doughty, Arthur Peters, Mike Tuilawa and Gopal Krishna."
The Blues are in fifth spot on the NFL points table. The side has played seven matches and has eight points recording two wins, two draws and three losses.
Gounder said the interim coaches failed to realise that their term was only for five matches.
He said at that stage the Blues only had five points.
Gounder said the position of the Lautoka coach would be advertised tomorrow.