raffrox
13 Nov 2005, 10:58
Very interesting if half of this is true. The article is written by Caroline Wilson but having Harvey looking over CC's shoulder can't be too comfortable.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/11/12/1131578270729.html
Bell tolls for Connolly
By Caroline Wilson
November 13, 2005
Chris Connolly should be afraid. Very afraid. The position of a senior coach at a football club that has under-achieved is tenuous enough without having to deal with overseeing an operation that is moving in so many different directions as Fremantle is at present.
And, most worryingly for Connolly, directions that point away from him.
Last week's astonishing reports that Mark Harvey had been offered a staggering $750,000 over three years to move west and take on the role of assistant coach was just the latest in a long line of heavy hints that the Cameron Schwab-Chris Connolly era was nearing its end.
Already the Fremantle coach was heading towards 2006 in the knowledge that his leadership group's faith in him was wavering. Notably, Connolly's captain Peter Bell had made his post-season thoughts on the subject of the club's future under Connolly more than clear to the Dockers' board.
Bell and a group of senior players that included Matthew Pavlich, the Carr brothers and Shaun McManus, made their concerns known to an official convening of the board. And Bell's misgivings regarding his coach - whether fair or not - are not new.
Fremantle chiefs have rightly pointed out that such processes are healthy, particularly after a poor season, but how coach and captain can continue to pull together for another year - Connolly has two years remaining on his contract but in reality 2006 will be his last should the club fail again to reach the finals - is difficult to contemplate.
Another chink in the Connolly armour is the suggestion that his close friend and chief executive Schwab could be contemplating a return to Melbourne over the next 12 months. The West Australian Football Commission said it has been overjoyed with Schwab's performance in turning around the club's financial position but, perhaps, Schwab simply wants to come home.
Most disturbing has been the circumstances surrounding the Harvey offer. Fremantle has been searching for a new assistant for more than two months and, having been turned down by Chris Bond, Peter Mann and Peter Sumich among others, reportedly made the long-time Essendon assistant a massive offer more than a week ago.
Or did it? While an initial approach was made involving Fremantle director - and former Bomber - Tony Buhagiar and then a more concrete expression of interest communicated to Harvey via Dockers chairman Rick Hart during Melbourne Cup Week, Schwab denied over recent days that Harvey had been offered a job.
In fact Schwab told 3AW on Thursday night that Harvey had been invited to fly to Perth for an interview but that no concrete offer had been made. While Harvey was making clear his interest in the position on Perth and Melbourne radio, most of the Fremantle football department had no knowledge of the move to employ him. And yet clearly the respected assistant coach was given the strong impression that the job was his if he wanted it.
More disturbingly for Connolly, it was all but spelt out to Harvey by at least one director - and a boardroom shuffle is imminent - that a senior coaching position could be his by the end of the year. It has been said many times that Mark Harvey must leave Essendon to further his career but perhaps the environment at Fremantle might not be the most attractive place to further it.
And $250,000 a year? As one Victorian football club official pointed out in recent days, Fremantle has made it very difficult for its rivals trying to secure good assistants - and remember they are only assistants - by offering Harvey the sort of money that does not differ significantly from the amount being paid to at least one senior coach.
This is not to say that Harvey does not deserve the money. And we should point out, too, that Connolly's team had significant injury issues in 2005, although nothing should excuse Fremantle's second-half fade-out against Port Adelaide in round 22 when a finals berth was at stake.
But the fact is that Connolly is entering 2006 with a captain who doubts him, the amplified scrutiny of the powerful WA Commission, a board with several new faces and, potentially, a board-appointed highly paid assistant coach who has been given the impression he might not be an assistant for long.
Lucky for Connolly that he is a realist with a good sense of humor who has long seen the writing on the wall. And, according to at least four Victorian clubs, is eminently employable.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/11/12/1131578270729.html
Bell tolls for Connolly
By Caroline Wilson
November 13, 2005
Chris Connolly should be afraid. Very afraid. The position of a senior coach at a football club that has under-achieved is tenuous enough without having to deal with overseeing an operation that is moving in so many different directions as Fremantle is at present.
And, most worryingly for Connolly, directions that point away from him.
Last week's astonishing reports that Mark Harvey had been offered a staggering $750,000 over three years to move west and take on the role of assistant coach was just the latest in a long line of heavy hints that the Cameron Schwab-Chris Connolly era was nearing its end.
Already the Fremantle coach was heading towards 2006 in the knowledge that his leadership group's faith in him was wavering. Notably, Connolly's captain Peter Bell had made his post-season thoughts on the subject of the club's future under Connolly more than clear to the Dockers' board.
Bell and a group of senior players that included Matthew Pavlich, the Carr brothers and Shaun McManus, made their concerns known to an official convening of the board. And Bell's misgivings regarding his coach - whether fair or not - are not new.
Fremantle chiefs have rightly pointed out that such processes are healthy, particularly after a poor season, but how coach and captain can continue to pull together for another year - Connolly has two years remaining on his contract but in reality 2006 will be his last should the club fail again to reach the finals - is difficult to contemplate.
Another chink in the Connolly armour is the suggestion that his close friend and chief executive Schwab could be contemplating a return to Melbourne over the next 12 months. The West Australian Football Commission said it has been overjoyed with Schwab's performance in turning around the club's financial position but, perhaps, Schwab simply wants to come home.
Most disturbing has been the circumstances surrounding the Harvey offer. Fremantle has been searching for a new assistant for more than two months and, having been turned down by Chris Bond, Peter Mann and Peter Sumich among others, reportedly made the long-time Essendon assistant a massive offer more than a week ago.
Or did it? While an initial approach was made involving Fremantle director - and former Bomber - Tony Buhagiar and then a more concrete expression of interest communicated to Harvey via Dockers chairman Rick Hart during Melbourne Cup Week, Schwab denied over recent days that Harvey had been offered a job.
In fact Schwab told 3AW on Thursday night that Harvey had been invited to fly to Perth for an interview but that no concrete offer had been made. While Harvey was making clear his interest in the position on Perth and Melbourne radio, most of the Fremantle football department had no knowledge of the move to employ him. And yet clearly the respected assistant coach was given the strong impression that the job was his if he wanted it.
More disturbingly for Connolly, it was all but spelt out to Harvey by at least one director - and a boardroom shuffle is imminent - that a senior coaching position could be his by the end of the year. It has been said many times that Mark Harvey must leave Essendon to further his career but perhaps the environment at Fremantle might not be the most attractive place to further it.
And $250,000 a year? As one Victorian football club official pointed out in recent days, Fremantle has made it very difficult for its rivals trying to secure good assistants - and remember they are only assistants - by offering Harvey the sort of money that does not differ significantly from the amount being paid to at least one senior coach.
This is not to say that Harvey does not deserve the money. And we should point out, too, that Connolly's team had significant injury issues in 2005, although nothing should excuse Fremantle's second-half fade-out against Port Adelaide in round 22 when a finals berth was at stake.
But the fact is that Connolly is entering 2006 with a captain who doubts him, the amplified scrutiny of the powerful WA Commission, a board with several new faces and, potentially, a board-appointed highly paid assistant coach who has been given the impression he might not be an assistant for long.
Lucky for Connolly that he is a realist with a good sense of humor who has long seen the writing on the wall. And, according to at least four Victorian clubs, is eminently employable.