SAANICH, – Members of Canada’s men’s eights rowing team are contemplating their future in the sport following coach Mike Spracklen’s controversial departure.

The rowers, who won silver at the London Olympics this summer, made the comments Thursday after participating in a tribute to the 75-year-old Spracklen, who lost his job earlier this week.

Rowing Canada announced Spracklen’s departure on its website but did not describe the move as either a firing or resignation.

No reasons were given, but Spracklen has had a fractious relationship with the governing body for a number of years.

“All along (since the Olympics), I’ve been on the fence about whether I want to (leave) or not,” said two-time Olympian Andrew Burns of Toronto, who also won gold under Spracklen in 2008 in Beijing. “This plays a role and who they hire plays a role in determining what I decide to do with the team.

“I’m here to win. I want to be on a team that’s successful and I’m going to (want to) feel going into Rio that this team has that chance at success. That depends on the organization, the coaches, and the other athletes around there. Those are all things that will factor into my decision.”

Burns said several other members of the team are in the same position, and Spracklen’s departure and replacement will affect their decisions.

“There’s no substitute for hard work for winning Olympic medals,” said Burns, a 29-year-old who has been a member of the team since 2006. “It’s going to take a lot out of the next four years. You need a good coach, for sure.”

Spracklen’s many successes during two stints with the Canadian program included silver in the men’s eights this summer and gold in the same event in 1992, 2000 and 2008.

Jerry Brown, a member of the 2012 silver-medal-winning crew, said he is also contemplating his future. Brown, a 26-year-old Cobourg, Ont., native, said his decision will be “highly personal,” but Spracken’s departure will also factor into it.

“I am very disappointed, because I know Mike wanted to continue to coach, and I haven’t been coached by some of the others,” said Brown, a former McMaster University football player who started training under him a 20 months ago.

“I know in my heart that, if I wanted to do it again at a high level and I wanted to win a medal, Mike’s the only guy I know — right now — that can take me there.”

Spracklen, who is expected to coach in another country, only spoke briefly with reporters.

“It’s nice to see these people down here,” he said.