Kildonan
15 Sep 2006, 23:19
Walls, Sheldon to help Saints choose coach (http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/09/14/1157827092484.html)
Caroline Wilson
September 15, 2006
THE SEARCH for St Kilda's new coach will start in earnest today with a list of about 20 candidates to be scrutinised by Brownlow medallist Ross Smith and Carlton premiership duo Robert Walls and Ken Sheldon.
Walls, The Age's football commentator and Blues premiership coach, last night became the final piece in the panel's jigsaw when he agreed to help the Saints find a new coach but said he would be unwilling to chair the subcommittee.
And in a welcome announcement from Moorabbin last night, dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey announced he would play on next year — his 20th season in VFL/AFL football, having made his debut as a 16-year-old in 1988 — despite the widespread reports of player disenchantment following Grant Thomas' shock sacking.
Thomas, who gave his first extensive interview on Channel Nine' last night, admitted his personal falling out with club president Rod Butterss and other Saints directors, including Mark Kellett, had played a big part in his downfall.
"There's no doubt that I didn't have the best relationship with people that mattered at the club," Thomas said. "For whatever reason, we (Thomas and Butterss) had a few stoushes a couple of years ago and we never really recovered."
Although Thomas said he "didn't expect (the sacking) to happen", he was proud of what he had achieved. "I think the performance of the St Kilda Football Club over the past five years has been quite commendable, and I'm very proud of that. I put my head on the pillow and know I've had a significant contribution to where the club is at the moment."
Smith, the AFL's former game development manager, will join Walls, Sheldon and St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser to sift through a list of names already profiled by the Stride management group.
Butterss, Kellett and director Glen Casey will join the subcommittee once the long list of candidates is cut by roughly two-thirds. The final in-depth interview process will probably involve two or three final shortlisted applicants.
The club yesterday signed former coach Sheldon to a three-month contract and appointed him to a key role on the club's newly appointed subcommittee.
Sheldon, who coached the Saints to two finals series in four years between 1990-93, confirmed The Age's report yesterday that he would be working with Fraser in the rebuilding and restructuring of St Kilda's football department, overseen by Thomas for the past five years.
"I'm delighted and looking forward to adding some value," Sheldon said last night.
The Saints continue to deny they are seriously considering the experienced over-50s premiership brigade of Mick Malthouse, Denis Pagan and Leigh Matthews.
In other developments yesterday:
■Adelaide assistant coach Don Pyke confirmed he had been approached for the St Kilda coaching job but had ruled himself out of contention;
■Former club president Andrew Plympton, former director Gerry Ryan and Lindsay Fox's son David all denied any suggestion of a challenge to the board;
■A still shattered Thomas met Fox snr, a club patron and mentor to the coach, over breakfast in South Yarra before Fox flew overseas last night. While Fox remained angry at Thomas' sacking and met several senior players at his home on Wednesday, he is believed to have no intention of plotting a challenge to the board.
Sheldon was to report for work at Moorabbin early today, with a charter to work closely on the club's list management — more than one-third of the list is out-of-contract — and player liaison. The three-time Carlton premiership player-turned successful management consultant did not rule out joining the club in a full-time capacity.
Caroline Wilson
September 15, 2006
THE SEARCH for St Kilda's new coach will start in earnest today with a list of about 20 candidates to be scrutinised by Brownlow medallist Ross Smith and Carlton premiership duo Robert Walls and Ken Sheldon.
Walls, The Age's football commentator and Blues premiership coach, last night became the final piece in the panel's jigsaw when he agreed to help the Saints find a new coach but said he would be unwilling to chair the subcommittee.
And in a welcome announcement from Moorabbin last night, dual Brownlow medallist Robert Harvey announced he would play on next year — his 20th season in VFL/AFL football, having made his debut as a 16-year-old in 1988 — despite the widespread reports of player disenchantment following Grant Thomas' shock sacking.
Thomas, who gave his first extensive interview on Channel Nine' last night, admitted his personal falling out with club president Rod Butterss and other Saints directors, including Mark Kellett, had played a big part in his downfall.
"There's no doubt that I didn't have the best relationship with people that mattered at the club," Thomas said. "For whatever reason, we (Thomas and Butterss) had a few stoushes a couple of years ago and we never really recovered."
Although Thomas said he "didn't expect (the sacking) to happen", he was proud of what he had achieved. "I think the performance of the St Kilda Football Club over the past five years has been quite commendable, and I'm very proud of that. I put my head on the pillow and know I've had a significant contribution to where the club is at the moment."
Smith, the AFL's former game development manager, will join Walls, Sheldon and St Kilda chief executive Archie Fraser to sift through a list of names already profiled by the Stride management group.
Butterss, Kellett and director Glen Casey will join the subcommittee once the long list of candidates is cut by roughly two-thirds. The final in-depth interview process will probably involve two or three final shortlisted applicants.
The club yesterday signed former coach Sheldon to a three-month contract and appointed him to a key role on the club's newly appointed subcommittee.
Sheldon, who coached the Saints to two finals series in four years between 1990-93, confirmed The Age's report yesterday that he would be working with Fraser in the rebuilding and restructuring of St Kilda's football department, overseen by Thomas for the past five years.
"I'm delighted and looking forward to adding some value," Sheldon said last night.
The Saints continue to deny they are seriously considering the experienced over-50s premiership brigade of Mick Malthouse, Denis Pagan and Leigh Matthews.
In other developments yesterday:
■Adelaide assistant coach Don Pyke confirmed he had been approached for the St Kilda coaching job but had ruled himself out of contention;
■Former club president Andrew Plympton, former director Gerry Ryan and Lindsay Fox's son David all denied any suggestion of a challenge to the board;
■A still shattered Thomas met Fox snr, a club patron and mentor to the coach, over breakfast in South Yarra before Fox flew overseas last night. While Fox remained angry at Thomas' sacking and met several senior players at his home on Wednesday, he is believed to have no intention of plotting a challenge to the board.
Sheldon was to report for work at Moorabbin early today, with a charter to work closely on the club's list management — more than one-third of the list is out-of-contract — and player liaison. The three-time Carlton premiership player-turned successful management consultant did not rule out joining the club in a full-time capacity.