Coaches seek early notice over sackings
Caroline Wilson | March 16, 2009
AFL coaches have demanded to be told by July 1 in the final year of their contracts whether they will be sacked at the end of the season.
In one of a series of terms and conditions being sought by AFL coaches in their negotiation for a new and binding agreement with the competition's governing body, the 16 senior club mentors have insisted upon at least two months' notice in a new standard coaching contract.
While the new demands will not be retrospective, the scenario, which would have taken place after round 13 this season, would have been fascinating with seven senior coaches coming out of contract.
Those clubs, which are aware of the coaches' demands on terms and conditions, have some misgivings about being given the mid-season ultimatum. All assistant coaches have demanded an August 1 deadline.
And every assistant coach has demanded the right to buy a club-allocated grand final ticket.
In the past that right has been overlooked by clubs, which have instead on-sold much of its allocated finals tickets at inflated prices to football supporters and corporate fans.
Assistant coaches will also be given two-year minimum contracts on the agreed understanding that every untried coach needs more than one season to prove himself.
The Western Bulldogs are concerned about the new deal and have planned to discuss its ramifications within the club this week while the coaches' new agreement with the AFL will also be debated at this week's specially convened meeting of the 16 club presidents.
As it stands, only two of the seven soon-to-be-out-of-contract coaches have contractual obligations to learn of their fate by the end of June and they are Dean Laidley — whose last contract was strung out by the Kangaroos into October, rendering him unable to negotiate with other clubs — and Mark Williams, who has made it clear he wants to continue his coaching career whether or not Port Adelaide retains him.
Both coaches are managed by Ricky Nixon, who is understood to have consulted the AFL Coaches Association on its new unofficial collective bargaining agreement.
Nixon's other clients are Brett Ratten and Rodney Eade. Ratten has the clause in his new deal with Carlton but Eade, whose contract expires this year, does not. The Bulldogs have said they will re-open negotiations with Eade in the coming months.
The historic agreement should have been signed off this week by the AFL and the AFL Coaches Association but league executives Adrian Anderson and Andrew Dillon have not communicated the ramifications of the deal to all of the clubs.
Anderson confirmed that the new terms and conditions — part of an agreement that includes a three-year AFL funding deal worth $1.8 million — would be presented to the remaining clubs and negotiated within weeks.
The coaches also pushed for — but did not win — portable long-service leave. The AFL baulked at coaches who moved from club to club compiling the leave, claiming there would be a dispute over who would fund it.
As it is, long-service leave is granted to coaches who perform seven years service at one club — as Paul Roos has. He took two months' holiday over the summer.
Assistant coaches will also receive one day off each week and leave in lieu of accrued public holidays.
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/coaches-seek-sack-notice/2009/03/15/1237054650533.html
