Perth Glory deputy chairman Lui Giuliani says Kenny Lowe's resignation as assistant coach had nothing to do with Ian Ferguson taking the reigns as the club's interim manager.
In a tumultuous period for the club over the last seven days, the Glory have lost Dave Mitchell from the senior coaching role, with his former assistant Ferguson taking over the role on an interim basis.
But added to this, 48-year-old Lowe, Mitchell's primary assistant over the last two seasons has now gone, sparking speculation his resignation was a case of sour grapes at seeing the senior role given to someone who only arrived at the club earlier this year.
But Giuliani has adamantly declared this isn't the case, saying Lowe had several personal issues to deal with.
"It's more a case of unfortunate timing," said Giuliani on Tuesday afternoon.
"Kenny's been contemplating this for some months."
"He's had a number of personal issues arise."
"They're not health issues, but just personal issues, and because of that he felt like he had to go."
"He apologised for the timing (but) it's a decision he had to make to move on with his personal matters."
"I rang him up yesterday and tried to convince him to change his mind but I understood his decision."
"Unfortunately he's moving on but he's offered to help us with video analysis work on a part-time basis."
Lowe, who is also head coach of Football West's National Training Centre program, didn't speak to the media on Tuesday but offered a short statement through a club media release.
"I've had a great time with Perth Glory and really appreciate Dave Mitchell and (owner) Tony Sage bringing me to the club and giving me a chance at the top level," said Lowe.
"I feel it's the right decision and I hope Ian Ferguson and Perth Glory have a really successful season."
Lowe's departure is another blow to the Glory as the team looks to arrest a five-game losing streak when they play Sydney FC on Sunday at nib Stadium.
Goalkeeper Aleks Vrteski said the decision was another shock to the players.
"It's obviously a sad day to lose him," Vrteski said on Tuesday morning before training.
"Kenny's been one of the greats of the team."
"He's always offering help to the younger players, he's got that link about him, he looks after the young boys and he offers a lot of assistance to the older players and his knowledge of the game is second to none."
"(There's) disappointment from everyone."
"You've known the guy pretty well and he gives everything to the players, so it's naturally disappointing to lose someone like Kenny, but as they say, the show must go on."
Lowe has previously managed Gateshead and Barrow in the United Kingdom before joining the Glory during a similarly tumultuous 2007-08 season, when coach Ron Smith was sacked and replaced by Mitchell.
Giuliani said the club would now start an internal and external review process in order to bring new specialist assistants in to help the team, the deputy chairman saying some senior players may be required to take on a partial coaching role to guide the youngsters.
One of those older players, veteran defender Andy Todd was absent for the first part of Tuesday's training session and Ferguson will be hoping he's fit to play on Sunday against a Sydney team which will be desperate to notch its first win of the season.
But in some good news for the coach, star recruit Robbie Fowler trained after returning from the UK over the last few days.