Stajcic was dramatically axed by the FFA on January 19 after they alleged he had presided over a "rapidly deteriorating culture" within the Matildas which had been revealed in surveys by the PFA and Our Watch.

However it later emerged that neither organisation had suggested anyone should be dismissed over the findings.

But a whispering campaign behind the scenes from key figures within the FFA to certain parts of the media threatened to destroy Stajcic's reputation and career with unfounded innuendo of far more serious allegations against Stajcic.

Today in a conference room in North Sydney, Stajcic appeared in public to try to salvage his name and reputation, and demanded a full independent investigation into the events leading up to his dismissal and the immediate aftermath.

He read his prepared statement – available here – before taking questions from the press for almost 30 minutes.

Despite a steely resolve verging on anger in his voice when discussing the FFA and his treatment, he had to fight back tears when talking about the Matildas squad and his family.

The emotion-charged press conference halted several times while he drank a glass of water to compose himself as he revealed the effect the dismissal had on his wife and children, and his close relationship with the players.

He came closest to breaking down completely while talking about the Matildas' journey to the World Cup this year, an adventure he was set to take with them until the FFA wielded the axe without warning last month.

"I'm here to restore what I can of my reputation after having spent 20 years coaching," he said.

"My kids have had to go to school, read the speculation in the media, the firestorm that's erupted due to the lack of clarity and transparency that's resulted due to the nature of the comments both private and public of the board of directors.

"As a father and a person who is highly engaged in my community, that's certainly been the toughest part to take."

Stajcic said he endorsed the PFA survey as a factfinding exercise to improve the team, but says he took issue with it when he saw the results, and questioned the methodology used.

"In 20 years of coaching, I've never had an issue around the culture of any single team," he said.

"In five years, I've never had a conversation with anyone on the executive, CEO or Chairman, about the culture of my team.

"And the first time I'd ever spoken to [FFA CEO] David Gallop about this issue was on January 18."

He added: "Our culture has been developing over a long period of time.

"It's been a steep learning curve for the group over the last two years as they've transitioned from semi-professional to professional.

"When you're adding the amount of attention and scrutiny the team now has in Australia, it really has added a massive burden on their shoulders.

"We're dealing with those challenges on a daily basis."

Stajcic refused to be drawn into arguments about a conspiracy against him and insisted: "I'm here to talk about my future.

"The speculation and innuendo that's run rife over the past three weeks - I can't explain how damaging that has been for me personally.

"The speculation that, 'He must have done something' is the part that's really ruined my reputation.

"There were no actions or behaviours attributed to me and as [FFA director] Joseph Carrozzi said, there was no smoking gun.

"I think I had to make that very, very clear."

He said dozens of Matildas past and present had been in touch with him to offer their support in the days following his dismissal – but he was still none the wiser for the real reasons behind it.

"David Gallop said to me that the team had a poor culture and that I as head coach was responsible for that," said Stajcic.

"My reply to that is we have our former captain still in that team, Clare Polkinghorne, and she said publicly a few days ago that she had not experienced any bullying, fat shaming or toxic environment that have been cited as a reason.

"Clare is probably the most respected player in our team. If she can come and say that, I think that's pretty reflective of what the whole team thinks."

Stajcic said he was only presented with the team culture reasons for his dismissal in the very last minute of his crunch meeting with Gallop – but the CEO refused to go into details with him about it as he sacked him, citing reasons of confidentiality.

"There was no substance at all, no information at all," said Stajcic. "I pressed him on what he was referring to and he said it was all confidential so I had no way of responding."

The sacking is expected to be a key issue at today's board meeting of the FFA with the public outcry over the sacking still showing no signs of diminishing weeks after the decision.

A new coach has still to be appointed, but the Matildas are set to play in the Australian-hosted Cup of Nations in just two weeks time.

Stajcic added: "The way this has been handled hasn't done me any good and hasn't done the game any good.

"Moving forward as a sport, I think an independent review is required to find out how we got in this position for me as an individual and as a code.

"I've only ever wanted the code to prosper, for women's football to prosper – 20 years of blood, sweat and tears to give our team and our support the opportunity to be what it wanted to be.

"If that requires an independent review, that that is something that will make our sport grow. For now, I look forward to the search for truth, honour and integrity in this awful saga."