Rikard Grip had been active in the Swedish cross country team for ten years when, on March 29 this year, it was announced that Grip would leave. According to the press release, it was written that "now he chooses to leave his assignment as national team manager".
According to the then length manager Johan Sares, the resignation would take place after a joint decision. Now Expressen comes with new information in the case.
According to the newspaper, Grip was fired by Johan Sares with immediate effect, which according to Expressen is substantiated by a number of independent sources.
- There was one person who made a decision that Grip would not be left. Without having to look it up with so many.
And that person was Johan Sares?
- Yes, says one of the sources to Expressen.
"What is alleged by Expressen falls on its own unreasonableness"Johan Sares dismisses Expressen's information.
- What is alleged by Expressen falls on its own unreasonableness. No manager of the union can dismiss an employee unanimously if it is. The data is directly inaccurate and goes completely against SSF's (Swedish Ski Federation, editorial report) principles and definitely against the experience I have from Rikard's end in the cross country team, writes Johan Sares in a text message to SVT Sport.
Rikard Grip's resignation was followed by three more managers leaving the national team. Sares himself left in May, the election manager Urban Nilsson left just over two weeks later and then in August Rikard Grip's replacement, Jonas Peterson was fired after just over four months at his post.
Rikard Grip himself gives no definitive messages about finishing in the national team.
- Out of respect to all active and leaders who work around the cross country team today, I do not want to comment on what has happened. I want them to get some peace and quiet, and focus fully on the upcoming ski season, ”Grip tells Expressen.