Swans' Coaches

[is2SWaNz]

Congratulations to Ross Lyon who was appointed the job as the new St Kilda coach.

Since John Longmire is likely to stay at the Swans, Roosy said that he wants the Longmire as the midfield coach. Thoughts?

And who will replace Lyon?

 

[natlovestheswans]

Hm, is that Blakey guy a forwards coach?

 

[CharlieG]

Alastair Lynch. Roosy's been waiting for a chance to bring him to the club. I'm actually hoping that we'll go with four assistants (we can probably afford it at the moment). Give Cresswell a chance to redeem himself as midfield assistant, and let Longmire be more of a 'deputy coach' rather than assistant responsible for any one area.

Blakey was a defender. Probably the replacement for Peter Jonas.

 

[Minkus_Swan]

More extra voices in the coaching box? Hmmmm, might not be the best idea.

I don't how this deputy coach will work out (I suppose Parkin did it with Brittain). If Roos wants to lessen his workload I can understand, but it would make it almost a co-coach position.

I guess the modern day coach has alot more to deal with than 10 years ago. And if this keeps Roos at the swans for longer, I'm all for it!

 

[liz]

Alastair Lynch. Roosy's been waiting for a chance to bring him to the club.

Lynch has already ruled himself out for next year, citing conflicting business committments.

 

[scottwade]

No reason why they can't promote Berbakov or Allison to a full time position. Both already have coaching responsibilities at the club. And please not Cresswell; he left both Geelong & Brisbane under a cloud.

 

[scottwade]

I don't how this deputy coach will work out (I suppose Parkin did it with Brittain).

It is somewhat different though. Brittain was the match day coach. Under the plan reported in the papers Longmire would be the 'out of season' coach and Roos would retain full match day responsibility.

 

[CharlieG]

Lynch has already ruled himself out for next year, citing conflicting business committments.

Ah, didn't know this. Cheers.

 

[CharlieG]

No reason why they can't promote Berbakov or Allison to a full time position. Both already have coaching responsibilities at the club. And please not Cresswell; he left both Geelong & Brisbane under a cloud.

He left Geelong because his original intention upon retiring was to move to Brisbane. Geelong was only ever a stepping stone. He left Brisbane because he felt there was a chance at a senior position.

He made an appalling error of judgement at the worst possible time, and it might cost him a coaching career. I'd like to think that the Swans would give a Team of the Century member and very talented assistant coach another chance.

 

[scottwade]

He left Brisbane because he felt there was a chance at a senior position.

No, Brisbane did not renew his contract. And he left Geeelong 2 years into a 3 year contract.

 

[CharlieG]

No, Brisbane did not renew his contract.

Got a source? I never saw anything that ever suggested that it was not his decision. I'm also friends with someone close to Cresswell (don't ask me who because I won't tell you) who indicated to me a couple of weeks before the announcement that he thought the time was right to chase a senior position.

And he left Geeelong 2 years into a 3 year contract.

He was only at Geelong for one year. He made it clear at his retirement press conference at the start of 2003 that he and his wife wished to move to Brisbane at the end of the year. The Geelong opportunity put that aside, but when Brisbane expressed their interest he jumped at the chance.

 

[scottwade]

Got a source? I never saw anything that ever suggested that it was not his decision.

This is an 'official' source;
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20407814-2722,00.html

Jenny Mcasey states inter alia ...Cresswell completed two years there and developed a reputation as a clever tactician. However, the Lions did not renew his two-year contract. The club released a statement saying Cresswell was leaving with its best wishes to explore greater opportunities in Melbourne. However, it is believed there had been concerns about Cresswell's commitment, and the Lions were keen to find room to employ former player Justin Leppitsch in an assistant coaching role. Leppitsch had one year to run on a large back-ended contract.

I also have an unofficial source, who made it clear he believed it was, first and foremost, Brisbane's decision. After all think about it. Cresswell leaves Geelong, because he wants to move to Brisbane (the city as much as the footy club), then 2 years later he 'resigns', with absolutely no definite job prospects, even though he has made it clear he wants to be a career coach.

 

[CharlieG]

The Leppitsch situation does make your argument make more sense, but I'm afraid I can't quite buy the 'pushed out' argument. Cresswell thought that he could land the Geelong job... when he quit, it looked very much like Thompson was gone, and Cressa is very highly rated at the Cats.

It might have been that before they lost Blakey, they were committed to Leppa and Cresswell might have been squeezed out, but I wouldn't buy into the 'he's been sacked by two clubs' because it simply isn't true.

Incidentally, I don't know what your 'unofficial source' is (and I'm not asking you to tell me). Mine is someone close to Cresswell who would know what he's thinking, rather than the club itself. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if there's two versions of the departure - that's how footy clubs work.

 

[SWANNIES RULE]

It has just been announced that John Longmire will stay with us next year. Great news.

 

[scottwade]

Good news for all concerned. IIRC 7 senior coaches come out of contract next year. So may be for just the 1 year. He deserves the opportunity to be a senior coach.

 

[bradmanstandguy]

My dark horse has to be Barry Mitchel,former Syd great. Quietly biding his time
under Pagin at Carlton,was in with a show when Pagins job was under threat,
could be the replacement for Ross Lyon!

 

[is2SWaNz]

I think Longmire might be our senior coach after Roosy retires. But the question is, will Longmire stay at the Swans for another 4/5 years? If he does, i think Longmire would be a great coach.

 

[Oh When the Saints]

I believe that Cresswell was basically offered a contract by the St. Kilda FC on the proviso that Thomas would be chopped if he failed to deliver a flag in '06.
The club moved swiftly to get rid of Thomas and were going to announce Cresswell as coach when news of his alleged "activities" came to light.

The club basically said "screw you" and went to find someone else.

Apparently Cresswell was devastated that the Saints had pulled the pin and considered suing the club for breach of promise or somesuch claim, but on advice from others decided against it.

Anyway, good luck with finding some assistants. From what I hear Longmire will be midfield coach, Blakey forward coach and the new appointment will be in charge of the midfield.

 

[nico]

My dark horse has to be Barry Mitchel,former Syd great. Quietly biding his time
under Pagin at Carlton,was in with a show when Pagins job was under threat,
could be the replacement for Ross Lyon!

Mitchell defected from the Swans to Carlton as a player. My memory is a bit hazy on it but I seem to remember that his departure was somewhat acrimonious. Or was that how we felt as supporters.

 

[CharlieG]

Mitchell defected from the Swans to Carlton as a player. My memory is a bit hazy on it but I seem to remember that his departure was somewhat acrimonious. Or was that how we felt as supporters.

Don't know about acrimony, but he went from Sydney to Collingwood on what was purported to be $1million over five years (a massive contract at the time)... and lasted (I think) fewer than ten games before he was off to Carlton. That could well have been where the acrimonious departure was.

 

[Caj]

He left the swans whilst they were at their lowest point to accept a big $ contract with the pies.

I would think acromonious departure from a club and supporter point of view

 

[Seb]

Just to shed light on the Creswell situation, he was at Geelong for 1 year and did not cooperate at all with the Geelong hierarchy and the other coaches.

He burned the club totally.