Laidley starts to check optionsBrent Diamond | August 9, 2009
FORMER North Melbourne coach Dean Laidley plans to speak with Richmond this week to determine whether it wants an untried or experienced coach for its senior position.
Laidley, who is fielding several offers from AFL clubs for assistant or director of coaching roles, has been guaranteed a spot in the Tigers' final round of interviews. He was yesterday adamant that he was ready to coach an AFL club next season after quitting the Kangaroos.
“I've put a hell of a lot of thought into that and I want to coach again, but whether that's at senior level or a different role to what I've spoken to a couple of clubs about. We'll probably take it from there,” Laidley said on SEN radio yesterday.
“With Richmond, do they want to go with an untried coach, do they want to go with a coach that has got some experience? I would have thought that would be more the conversation that we'll have perhaps with the Tiges next week.
“I've got a passion to coach whether that's at senior level or director of coaching, I'm open to that.”
Laidley said he would meet with Tigers general manager of football Craig Cameron this week.
Laidley, who has been overseas on holidays for the past three weeks, also said he was interested in a development role with the AFL's 18th team, west Sydney.
“I've only been back for 48 to 72 hours, but on my list on Monday is to see Andrew [Demetriou] and Adrian [Anderson] and Dave Matthews and see the lie of the land and see what's going to happen up there,” Laidley said.
“Going back to start off at West Coast . . . I know how hard it is to start . . . a football club from a clean slate. My experiences are in the area and I know how difficult it is.”
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