Richmond will sound out Bucks next month.
What North plan to offer Buckley according to Denham in the Australian..... A three or four-year contract worth more than $500,000 a year, but will be given certain assurances to enhance the deal.
Football department spending will be increased substantially, including an increase in total player payments, which are due to rise from their current level of about 93 per cent to 95 per cent next year.
Not only will Buckley have a choice of some of his own staff, but the Kangaroos are also likely to seek an early retirement from the board of former club administrator Ron Joseph, who is viewed as a destabilising director and someone who could influence a decision by Buckley not to join.
North Melbourne chief executive Eugene Arocca said yesterday that football department spending would be increased to more than $14 million next year.
North Melbourne is also confident that Buckley will satisfy a crucial requirement for the next coach to be able to sell the club off the field by satisfying sponsors and increasing membership to record levels, something that led to Laidley's downfall.
A likely member of the coaching sub-committee, which will be announced following next week's board meeting, told The Australian yesterday that if Buckley accepted the challenge to take over North Melbourne, the club could expect the immediate impact of more than 5000 additional members in 2010.
"A steep rise in membership next year at the very least would be one spin-off if 'Bucks' comes on board, and we would also expect more corporate sponsors to join us," the Roos source said.
North Melbourne has already given its tick of approval to Buckley.
What is also expected to attract Buckley is the club's new $15.1m training and administration facility at Arden Street, which is scheduled to be ready by October this year and ready for pre-season training.
Buckley will also be sounded out by Richmond next month, but yesterday the Kangaroos remained confident that its administration and playing list were superior to the Tigers list.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25652188-5012432,00.html