The Adelaide Advertiser seems to imply Richmond are interested in Mark Williams if he doesn't re-sign with Port Mark Williams ready to negotiate coaching MICHELANGELO RUCCI
July 08, 2009
MARK Williams has re-affirmed he wants to stay at Port Adelaide - and he will compromise to coach the Power until at least the end of 2011.
Williams' commitment to Port was underlined last night when he told The Advertiser he has not asked his manager Ricky Nixon if either Richmond or North Melbourne, in particular the Tigers, had made approaches to lure him to vacancies in Victoria. "They might have asked Ricky, I haven't," said Williams after he, Nixon and Power chief executive Mark Haysman began negotiations on a two-year deal at Alberton.
Asked if he intended to stay with the Power - even with a pay cut and challenge-based clauses in his new contract - "Choco" Williams replied: "Yes, very much so.
"And no doubt there will be concessions on both sides."
As the spectre continues of Williams and Port falling out over the structure, more so than the pay scale, of his new contract, club, coach and manager last night presented an image of progress and good faith.
Nixon returned to Melbourne late yesterday saying: "We had a good meeting with Mark Haysman and we certainly understand where the club is coming from.
"I don't think we're far apart. We now know what both parties are trying to achieve, so it's a matter of coming out with a win both ways so he (Williams) can get on with coaching the club."
Williams left the talks yesterday to return to his home to meet family duties while a television crew monitored his movements. He did not charge Nixon with the task of sounding out options away from Alberton.
Haysman last night did not expect Port's strong position on a new contract to be undermined by the club being dragged into an auction with Richmond for Williams.
The Tigers could offer Williams more income and more tenure than the two-year, $600,000-a-season plus incentives on offer at Alberton. "Mark is entitled to talk to other clubs," said Haysman. "But in our very healthy talks so far, there is no indication he wants to. It's quite to the contrary."
While much is being made of the new clauses to be written in Williams' contract, the notion Williams must attend "behavioural programs" to improve his relationships inside and outside the club are regarded by the Power as a misrepresentation of its intent.
The club argues it wants Williams to sign up to "personal development" programs - and acknowledges the 2004 premiership coach already has taken steps on this path. These began in November after Williams met the board to consider the findings of last year's contentious review of the football program at Alberton.
Williams' media profile - which is considered vital in selling the club to new fans and sponsors - will be enhanced by further personal development.
"We are helping Mark to be the best he can be," Haysman said. "We are not putting into a public forum the contents of our offer to Mark.
"But today we have put to Mark and his management our reasoning for this contract - and cleared up points of misunderstanding."
Port is standing firm to its demand of a quick resolution of Williams' contract talks to avoid any on-field distraction to a team chasing a valuable berth to September's AFL finals. There is an undisclosed deadline, understood to be no more than a fortnight.
"Both parties want this resolved as quick as we can," Haysman said.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25749756-12428,00.html
