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Saints trade without coach
24 September 2006 Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralpah and Jon Pierik
ST KILDA may not have a coach during the critical October trade period, with the club determined to find the right candidate rather than rush its decision.
The Saints have decided to delay interviews for a new coach for at least another week so they can cast the net as wide as possible.
St Kilda had scheduled to begin discussions tomorrow, but has changed dates after the first meeting of the coaching sub-committee on Thursday.
"We're not interviewing Monday. We've still got a bit of work to do before we start the interviews," Saints chief executive Archie Fraser said.
"We've still got a bit of organising to do. Next week is obviously a big week with all the (Grand Final) activities. The week after the Grand Final would probably be the earliest we would do anything."
Sydney assistant John Longmire is one of the leading candidates to replace Grant Thomas and he would not have been able to meet with the sub-committee until after the Grand Final.
Assistant coaches, including Collingwood's Guy McKenna, St Kilda's Matt Rendell, Brisbane Lions' John Blakey and the Bulldogs' Chris Bond, are expected to be in the first batch of interviews.
The club is keen to secure a new ruckman, with Peter Everitt one of several players in the picture.
The list management committee believes it has the personnel to make the right decisions about the list.
That group will include the four assistant coaches already in place, along with recruiting manager John Beveridge, board member Mark Kellett and Fraser.
St Kilda president Rod Butterss said the club was determined not to rush what shapes as a massive decision after Thomas's sacking.
"The one thing I do know is that this is the highest priority the club has at the minute and we are not going to be short-circuiting the processes to hit a specific date," he said.
"It is much more important that we do it properly, we do it well and we do it thoroughly. We have got a series of steps we have to get through and we will take as long as it takes to get through those steps."
Butterss said newly appointed consultant Ken Sheldon had a wealth of experience to pass on about trading and drafting.
"He has got an incredible awareness and knowledge of all that," he said. "It is one change, really. Thommo out, 'Bomber' (Sheldon) in. And we are very confident we have got the processes, the strategies and the resources in place."
While St Kilda has no coach it is far from rudderless, with assistants Rendell, Jason Cripps, Jason Mifsud and Mick McGuane at the helm.
Despite facing uncertain futures at the club they are making decisions on retirements, delisting players, post-season reviews and the impending pre-season.
24 September 2006 Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralpah and Jon Pierik
ST KILDA may not have a coach during the critical October trade period, with the club determined to find the right candidate rather than rush its decision.
The Saints have decided to delay interviews for a new coach for at least another week so they can cast the net as wide as possible.
St Kilda had scheduled to begin discussions tomorrow, but has changed dates after the first meeting of the coaching sub-committee on Thursday.
"We're not interviewing Monday. We've still got a bit of work to do before we start the interviews," Saints chief executive Archie Fraser said.
"We've still got a bit of organising to do. Next week is obviously a big week with all the (Grand Final) activities. The week after the Grand Final would probably be the earliest we would do anything."
Sydney assistant John Longmire is one of the leading candidates to replace Grant Thomas and he would not have been able to meet with the sub-committee until after the Grand Final.
Assistant coaches, including Collingwood's Guy McKenna, St Kilda's Matt Rendell, Brisbane Lions' John Blakey and the Bulldogs' Chris Bond, are expected to be in the first batch of interviews.
The club is keen to secure a new ruckman, with Peter Everitt one of several players in the picture.
The list management committee believes it has the personnel to make the right decisions about the list.
That group will include the four assistant coaches already in place, along with recruiting manager John Beveridge, board member Mark Kellett and Fraser.
St Kilda president Rod Butterss said the club was determined not to rush what shapes as a massive decision after Thomas's sacking.
"The one thing I do know is that this is the highest priority the club has at the minute and we are not going to be short-circuiting the processes to hit a specific date," he said.
"It is much more important that we do it properly, we do it well and we do it thoroughly. We have got a series of steps we have to get through and we will take as long as it takes to get through those steps."
Butterss said newly appointed consultant Ken Sheldon had a wealth of experience to pass on about trading and drafting.
"He has got an incredible awareness and knowledge of all that," he said. "It is one change, really. Thommo out, 'Bomber' (Sheldon) in. And we are very confident we have got the processes, the strategies and the resources in place."
While St Kilda has no coach it is far from rudderless, with assistants Rendell, Jason Cripps, Jason Mifsud and Mick McGuane at the helm.
Despite facing uncertain futures at the club they are making decisions on retirements, delisting players, post-season reviews and the impending pre-season.
