Sheeds prepared to wait
29 July 2007 Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralph
ESSENDON coach Kevin Sheedy said he was prepared for 12 months out of coaching if not hired by a rival club next year, intensifying speculation he could make a grandstand return to Richmond.
Sheedy said he was confident of winning a head role next year, but would not give up his aspirations if overlooked by Carlton, Melbourne or Fremantle.
Terry Wallace has been assured of continuing as Richmond coach next year, but another poor season would see white-hot pressure on the Tigers board to consider replacing him with the legend.
Sheedy scoffed at claims he should retire and said he still had plenty of fire in his belly.
"I love coaching," he said. "It is a burning ambition. If you don't coach for a year, some other mob will say, 'Geez, this bloke can really coach'. There is plenty out there at the moment - judging by the last two days."
Sheedy would not reveal whether he had been approached, but said he would consider all coaching models.
In a frank interview, Sheedy:
SAID he would be happy to coach in an English Premier League-style partnership with a coach learning the ropes.
REBUTTED talk he had been offered a one-year contract while developing a young assistant at Essendon like Michael Voss.
REVEALED the Essendon board had not once spoken to him about his contract, including during the Monday night board meeting where they later voted not to renew his contract.
WOULD be happy to coach Victoria's State of Origin team next year if he was not coaching elsewhere and was offered the position.
SAID even a flag this year would not have been enough to see his contract extended.
WAS denied a chance by the Essendon board to investigate recruiting Irishman Martin Clarke last year, told it was "wasted expenditure".
CONFIRMED he would have accepted a two- or three-year deal if the board had offered him one.
WAS unsure whether he would work with the AFL in an ambassadorial role after years of sparring with the league.
Sheedy said the English Premier League model - experienced manager alongside an elite coach - could work.
"You will have to start looking at the Alex Ferguson model," he said.
"And you will need it more so in Melbourne than you would in Manchester. That is all I will say about that. And I will shape that role when it comes or if it comes and whoever it is for."
Sheedy said it would be up to the public and himself to judge what the Essendon board had done.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22151235%255E19742,00.html
