choco signs on

[Enviable Tradition]

I'm having problems getting my head around this process. Surely if the board has decided to offer Choco another contract it is only the first step in reappointment. Williams would need time to consider the offer first because, as relapse has alluded, he might reject the offer. You can't reappoint a coach unless he has accepted the terms of the offer. It seems odd to make an announcement (leaked to the media or not) unless a deal has already been agreed to.

I would think that part of the process they have done would have been to figure out how much Choco would coach for so that they could compare it to other options.

No point going through the whole process and deciding to keep Choco if we cant afford him.

 

[MrMeaner]

If this is true then the only way that it could be acceptable (to me anyway) would be if it was for a salary which allowed the club to throw real money around to attract decent assistants.

If we keep substantially the same coaching personnel and structure after our recent (ie over the past couple of years) performances, it is unacceptable and I will have to consider whether it is worth purchasing a membership.

 

[Mr Magoo]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25710633-5006301,00.html

Mark Williams appointed Port Adelaide AFL coach for two years

MICHELANGELO RUCCI, CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER

June 30, 2009 07:55am

ADELAIDENOW EXCLUSIVE: Mark Williams will continue as coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club after a two-year contract extension is confirmed this morning.

Williams was told of his extended tenure at Alberton - where he has been senior coach since 1999 - after a marathon meeting of the Power board.

It is understood senior members of the club met Williams shortly after 9.30pm last night to tell the 2004 AFL premiership coach he had won the board's vote at a meeting that began at noon and ended at 8.52pm.

Williams had been celebrating the birthday of his wife, Pauline, while the board met to settle his future as an AFL coach.

''He had extra reason to smile when the boys (club officials) turned up,'' a close associate of Williams told AdelaideNow this morning confirming Advertiser reports from last Thursday that Williams' term at the Power would be extended.

The decision on Williams was made before 5.45pm when board member Anthony Toop left his seven colleague directors for a business commitment in Sydney.

Port was compelled by Williams' contract to tell the coach by June 30 of his status for next season and beyond. Had the vote worked against Williams, he would have been free to meet rival clubs - such as Richmond and North Melbourne which are seeking new coaches for next year.

....

There's no doubt the rooch was on a stake out at the club last night & followed some of our board members & seen them shaking choco's hand or something.
If choco doesn't get told he's being resigned this morning then the rooch & hutchy will look pretty stupid.

 

[jimbeam06]

Hey guys i think ill wait and hear from power them selfs . last year hutchy was saying kerr was leaving the eagles and the bulldog was wrong

 

[PowerForGood]

Good choice!

 

[Malibu#27]

Ashley Porter is reporting that it is a one year reduced dollar deal. That is unheard of and surely not true. If true surely he would refuse to accept such an insulting offer. Tony Shaw was the only other coach I know of who was given a deal like that, but that was only because Collingwood already had Malthouse signed, sealed and delivered for the next season.

If it is a one year deal, then the board has made a massive mistake. It either has to be 0, 2, or 3 years. 1 year is nothing, provides no stability, and does not freshen us up.... so it keeps us in limbo like we have been this year (amd look at the results).

 

[Eddie Dingle]

If Rucci is correct...

It was time for a change and the board took the soft option.

I disagree vehemently with the boards decision but I will now get on with the job of supporting the Port Adelaide Football Club.

 

[kaysee]

I will wait for the official club announcement... in the meantime if true:

1) Am annoyed that the decision has been leaked.

2) I will be rather annoyed at our board members for reaching this decision. I am not happy with the way the PAFC and team have been travelling the last 3-4 years despite the 2007 GF appearance. I am not happy with the gamestyle we play.

 

[Dookey901]

Good! Chocco has proved over the years he is a good coach and he will turn things around for the power. We have been lucky enough at port to have had a pretty good decade under chocco where we have won a GF, made another and finished minor premiers numerous times. This is a better record then most other clubs in this period!

He will change things up as needed and come good. Have faith power supporters!

 

[FishingRick04]

I wonder if they went their to say thanks but no thanks as doing it in person would be the right thing to do.

If Rucci is right, I guess I get back on the Mark Williams train and hope he can take us to the promised land, I has 2 years to make minimum 2 finals series which would have to include a Prem lim minimum I would say (after this season)

 

[manureid]

If true, then sigh. The chance for change was staring us in the face and we failed.

 

[PAFC04]

Could the board be waiting on a decision from elsewhere, not from choco this morning before breaking the news??

I guess, if Choco is reappointed, then someone else has said, thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Papa G]

If true, then sigh. The chance for change was staring us in the face and we failed.

Agree, very dissapointing. If things don't turn around under Choco now, the club will set itself back many many years. Supporters will give a new coach time and patience. This will not be afforded to Choco.

How do people generally respond when their salary's are halved? Not very well I would have thought.

 

[Toots Hibbert]

I looked back through the Port information night thread at the start of the year to see if I could verify my memory but there's no comment there to support my recollection. Maybe someone else who was there can help me out.

My recollection is that Choco stated repeatedly that he wanted to continue coaching at Port. Of that I'm certain because of the great emphasis he put on it. The part that I'm not so sure of is a recollection that he floated the possibility that he might be on a reduced salary and that would not stop him being keen to continue at Alberton.

 

[simba_]

You guys believe it was 'leaked'? The most attractive inference has always been two years and a pay cut. Hutchy CLEARLY decided to push forth with that after 'confirming' with one of his 'contacts', he doesn't know shit but it's his job to act like he does.

 

[beenreal]

I'm ecstatic! Choco has us 6-6 with half the league side on the sidelines. Depth is more about putting competitive sides on the park, which is what happened on Sunday against a full strength, Geelong side at home.

Who knows, against a lesser opposition we probably would have won!

 

[Sheeds]

I will be rather annoyed at our board members for reaching this decision. I am not happy with the way the PAFC and team have been travelling the last 3-4 years despite the 2007 GF appearance. I am not happy with the gamestyle we play.

It is interesting you mention the 2007 GF because some supporters seem divided on whether it is a pro or con in analysing Chocco as coach. Some say we have made the GF and 14 other sides did not so the result speaks for itself. Some feel we were fortunate in 2007 and a record VFL/AFL GF losing margin of 20 goals overshadows the whole season and made us a laughing stock of the competition.

I will always support the club but to me this was the perfect time to make a change. We have lost 5 of our last 7 games and sitting outside the top 8 currently. Along with missing the finals 2 of the last 3 seasons I just cannot see a contract extension at this point in time being justified.

 

[PAFC04]

I'm ecstatic! Choco has us 6-6 with half the league side on the sidelines. Depth is more about putting competitive sides on the park, which is what happened on Sunday against a full strength, Geelong side at home.

Who knows, against a lesser opposition we probably would have won!

WE are 6/6 because we had a near full squad at the beginning of the season, with injuries and poor selections have us winning 1 game out of the last five and that win against a side that is second....to bottom.

I will give choco the benifit of the doubt because of injuries, but as for the selection, that has been his downfall this season, playing injured players and persisting with older players.


Depth is about playing youngsters to have them at the same standard as the first choice pick........

for example, replacing a goal keeper with a striker shows you don't have the depth.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

I looked back through the Port information night thread at the start of the year to see if I could verify my memory but there's no comment there to support my recollection. Maybe someone else who was there can help me out.

My recollection is that Choco stated repeatedly that he wanted to continue coaching at Port. Of that I'm certain because of the great emphasis he put on it. The part that I'm not so sure of is a recollection that he floated the possibility that he might be on a reduced salary and that would not stop him being keen to continue at Alberton.

Yep he made the point repeatedly during the year that he wanted to stay. He has acknowledged the financial situation of the club and taking a pay cut, altho how big a cut has not been made clear. I think others have invented numbers.

 

[PhoenixPower]

I looked back through the Port information night thread at the start of the year to see if I could verify my memory but there's no comment there to support my recollection. Maybe someone else who was there can help me out.

My recollection is that Choco stated repeatedly that he wanted to continue coaching at Port. Of that I'm certain because of the great emphasis he put on it. The part that I'm not so sure of is a recollection that he floated the possibility that he might be on a reduced salary and that would not stop him being keen to continue at Alberton.

i remember a press conference where he said he would defnately accept less money to stay

 

[jack_lord]

I'm ecstatic! Choco has us 6-6 with half the league side on the sidelines. Depth is more about putting competitive sides on the park, which is what happened on Sunday against a full strength, Geelong side at home.

Who knows, against a lesser opposition we probably would have won!

Look at our average losing margin. We have serious issues at the club, and I'm not convinced we would have won against lesser opposition, except maybe Melbourne.

We can't look at a game like that and take it as "acceptable", it's that kind of attitude that angers me most about our players, because we definitely were not competitive. We have the same few players that just roll over and give up when the going gets tough week in and week out.

 

[Witty Remark]

At the risk of being labelled a troll , I was wondering what impact you think his reappointment (alleged) will have on membership numbers. I have a feeling from listening to talk back and reading the rags (as reliable as they are ) and BF posts that PAFC supporters are feeling that the direction the club is heading has got a little stale. Choco can polarise both the media and supporters alike, and his reappointment may put off those supporters who were sitting on the fence.

Assuming he has been reappointed, will this bode well for attracting new members - or does this come down to game style and getting all your players on the field. A month ago Craigy was getting the hard press, however our game style has turned around and he is now being lauded as a great coach again.

I belive Adelaide needs two successful clubs and want to see PAFC succeed (just not as well as the Crows )

 

[Macca19]

At the risk of being labelled a troll , I was wondering what impact you think his reappointment (alleged) will have on membership numbers.

I think it will have a negative impact. I think there is a group out there taht do not want him as coach and there way of showing that they dont like the decision will be to not sign on again next year.

 

[Portia]

Crowds will continue to suffer for as long as we play the first five minutes and any supporter that knows football can realise they've wasted an entire afternoon/evening.

 

[PhoenixPower]

anyone who quits membership over the coach at a time when the club needs members more than ever is NOT a true fan