News Clarkson news, media etc - he’s off into the Sunset!

[Strapping Young Lad]

Full Presser at the link below.

 

[Billyc]

Again, the events of the last two weeks show this is also true. There certainly wasn't a Kirribili agreement, a gentleman's agreement, to pass on power. There was a succession plan in place, for sure, but that plan was considered before acted on. The board met, discussed and unanimously decided to move. For a Kirribili agreement to exist then we would need an arrangement where Clarkson/Kennett promised Sam the job and any further approval, like a board vote, would be circumvented.

There was no Kirribili agreement. It's quite clear.

Amazing gymnastics in this post

 

[Carl Spackler]

That is some serious spin. Are you expecting it to be taken seriously? Surely your better angle would be to say Reeves just didn’t want to tell the media anything. Perhaps try that one instead

What do you mean serious spin? I'm literally reading the words and repeating their true meaning. Heck, even the article which Jazzfan links just above from SEN says the same thing I do. And I just read it now, after I wrote my words above.

“The goal posts changed a bit in the last couple of weeks. I’m still not a huge believer in it long-term,” Reeves said.

“I think it was really, really important that when Sam came back, there was no guarantees, promises and no set-in-stone future. [Ed me: ie, a Kirribili agreement]

“That’s the sort of succession plan that I’m talking about."

 

[Carl Spackler]

Amazing gymnastics in this post

No gymnastics. It's called old fashioned linguistic analysis. Or understanding the clear meaning of what people say.

 

[Teamwork Talks]

Gonna be one hell of an 18 month ride. The media won't drop this, especially when we are leaking like we are.

Yes there is really only one big issue here.
Someone is leaking.
This is unusual for Hawthorn and suggests that not everyone is in agreement with the decision to not renew Clarkson.
The thing is that the Board makes that decision and everyone in Hawthorn must abide by the Boards decision. If you don't abide by the Boards decision then you are not acting in the interests of true governance of the Club.

 

[The Spirit of Cricket]

this thread is the ****ing wild, wild, west of the hawthorn board i tell you what

 

[Carl Spackler]

I'll just do one more clarification on what Kennett said was considered at the board meeting, which again confirms a succession plan but no Kirribili agreement.

The first question was: Do we want Clarkson, despite his legacy of success and everything he's done for the club, leading the footy for the next five or 10 years, given the challenge in front of us, etc? Answer was an unanimous "no, it's time to make a change."

The second question was: Given all we've seen of Mitchell over the last two seasons (and the three years before that when he was getting primed for this gig as part of our succession planning), is he the man to replace Clarkson in 2023 or do we search wider? Answer was an unanimous "he's the man, look no further."


And then they called up Sam and offered him the job. He said, "Thanks" and pulled out of the Collingwood process. Didn't enter it, actually.


I recognise this is a very emotional time. I'm eternally grateful to Clarkson for what he's done for Hawthorn and I look forward to at least three more years of his time at the club (and secretly hope it is much more than that). But I do agree with the board that when it comes to coaching it's time to pass on the torch. And I'm really grateful that the board, Clarkson and the organisation has the foresight to start preparing a top quality candidate five years ago. If we had picked up Ross Lyon as head coach then I may have had to fire up the microwave.

 

[Glacier]

Because clearly, people at the club are leaking directly to the media. What the media are saying, I take with complete grain of salt, much of it might be rubbish. It’s the fact we have multiple factions with different agendas who are choosing to fight their battles through the likes of Caro, Whately, etc. To me, that’s the story here, and suggests a club that is divided and lost complete control of the narrative. I don’t get why more people aren’t concerned about that.

The factions you speak of sound like media creations to me

 

[Steven Tyler]

Huge scandal

Clarko had KFC for dinner while Sam had Red Rooster

Rooster Box goes alright

 

[Milkshaker]

Yep, yawn. They are going to stir up the Lewis/Clarkson angle only now the Clarkson/Kennett angle as hard as they can. See if they can get Clarkson to talk on it. Whately is a little turd, I guess. Can't help but do the New Idea gossip angle.

Were I a journalist, here are some questions I would be interested to ask:

- You played with many of the men in the side. How will you deal with that level of familiarity? What happens when it's time to cut Gunston?
- Many say Clarkson has gone a little stale, yet you played and coached virtually your entire career under him. How are you fresh?
- Where is the game going and why?
- You've got list and development responsibilities for the next 18 months. What does Hawthorn need?

And maybe a few more. Instead? Kardashians. Frickin disgraceful efforts by the media.

How I miss the days when I could read news articles that asked real questions and the detailed responses given, were not cherry picked to fit a narrative. Sigh.

 

[Hodgey 15]

I'll just do one more clarification on what Kennett said was considered at the board meeting, which again confirms a succession plan but no Kirribili agreement.

The first question was: Do we want Clarkson, despite his legacy of success and everything he's done for the club, leading the footy for the next five or 10 years, given the challenge in front of us, etc? Answer was an unanimous "no, it's time to make a change."

The second question was: Given all we've seen of Mitchell over the last two seasons (and the three years before that when he was getting primed for this gig as part of our succession planning), is he the man to replace Clarkson in 2023 or do we search wider? Answer was an unanimous "he's the man, look no further."


And then they called up Sam and offered him the job. He said, "Thanks" and pulled out of the Collingwood process. Didn't enter it, actually.


I recognise this is a very emotional time. I'm eternally grateful to Clarkson for what he's done for Hawthorn and I look forward to at least three more years of his time at the club (and secretly hope it is much more than that). But I do agree with the board that when it comes to coaching it's time to pass on the torch. And I'm really grateful that the board, Clarkson and the organisation has the foresight to start preparing a top quality candidate five years ago. If we had picked up Ross Lyon as head coach then I may have had to fire up the microwave.

I wonder if the prospect of searching for a new coach after 2025 if Clarko had extended and knowing they'd let a potential premiership coach (and a favourite son no less) walk to another club may have played into their decision making also.

 

[Lickmesocks]

Given the circumstances with the Pies job being available to Mitch, I don't know how else it could have been handled.

I'm genuinely curious to what others think the Club could have done better.

Why was Clarko so worried about Mitchell getting another job that made him go to the club for a long term decision?

If you are fully invested and want the head coaching job you don’t worry about your assistants wanting to further develop their own career.

Clarko requesting the club make a tough decision now what ultimately cost him his job.

Maybe Clarko could read the tea leaves and knew deep down his time was coming to an end?

 

[Carl Spackler]

I wonder if the prospect of searching for a new coach after 2025 if Clarko had extended and knowing they'd let a potential premiership coach (and a favourite son no less) walk to another club may have played into their decision making also.

Yeah, I don't see how it didn't. They put all this time in to Mitchell and if he goes then what do they have? Picking up scraps from the wider market and going for a crapshoot vs the guy that they knew in great detail? Not a great corner to be backing yourself into.

Perhaps they had more than one succession iron in the fire. Chris Newman is a good candidate, IMO. Maybe if Sam left and Clarko stayed for another term then they would have lined up Newman as they had with Mitchell. I would accept that in 2025, I think.


Plus, how much has Hawthorn been raided of talent over the last 10+ years? Seven head coaches? Football managers? Executives? We keep getting them ready and others keep taking them. And this time we put a concerted, structured development effort into a guy to prepare him for the challenge of leading the top team and at the last second we lose him too? No way I would let him go. Time to put the foot down.

 

[MrPremiership]

Why was Clarko so worried about Mitchell getting another job that made him go to the club for a long term decision?

If you are fully invested and want the head coaching job you don’t worry about your assistants wanting to further develop their own career.

Clarko requesting the club make a tough decision now what ultimately cost him his job.

Maybe Clarko could read the tea leaves and knew deep down his time was coming to an end?

Great point.

Clarko knew Jeff didn't like long tenures, and the two have had a robust relationship for a long time.

Clarko would know the outcome of him going to the Board at that time. The easier thing to do was just to say nothing and let Mitchell leave and take the Pies job.

 

[MrPremiership]

I wonder if the prospect of searching for a new coach after 2025 if Clarko had extended and knowing they'd let a potential premiership coach (and a favourite son no less) walk to another club may have played into their decision making also.

Genuinely a lose-lose situation for the Board

 

[Mitchell Madness]

I don't believe caro's story, but if it's true, I reckon the leak is mcrae

He came to coach with clarko, probably saw a chance at a senior gig.
Would be most likely of any of our officials to have a relationship with caro. As caro said "be careful what you say," and assistant coaches all meet regularly

 

[deanc]

Gee, this thread heading towards 100 pages, not sure whether handshakes or a few uppercuts are the order of the day...?

Possible dumb question here - but as some on this thread seem convinced that Collingwood's offer to Mitchell was the trigger for this succession plan - I assume this has been publicly confirmed by the Pies, i.e. that they have/did in fact make a formal or informal offer to Sam...?
Sorry, as I rarely watch any of the related footy shows and stopped listening to SEN years ago, meaning I'm never abreast with the latest mostly irrelevant gossip and innuendo they produce, so I'm also usually 50 odd click-bait stories behind...

 

[CHUBBSS]

this thread is the ******* wild, wild, west of the hawthorn board i tell you what

Shoot from the hip!

 

[TylerDurden]

Why was Clarko so worried about Mitchell getting another job that made him go to the club for a long term decision?

If you are fully invested and want the head coaching job you don’t worry about your assistants wanting to further develop their own career.

Clarko requesting the club make a tough decision now what ultimately cost him his job.

Maybe Clarko could read the tea leaves and knew deep down his time was coming to an end?

There it is.

Clarko going to the board had nothing to do with the possibility of losing Sam.

 

[Stratton24]

There it is.

Clarko going to the board had nothing to do with the possibility of losing Sam.

It did according to Clarko - has said he didn't want to lose Sam if the board wanted him to take over

 

[Steven Tyler]

Gee, this thread heading towards 100 pages, not sure whether handshakes or a few uppercuts are the order of the day...?

Possible dumb question here - but as some on this thread seem convinced that Collingwood's offer to Mitchell was the trigger for this succession plan - I assume this has been publicly confirmed by the Pies, i.e. that they have/did in fact make a formal or informal offer to Sam...?
Sorry, as I rarely watch any of the related footy shows and stopped listening to SEN years ago, meaning I'm never abreast with the latest mostly irrelevant gossip and innuendo they produce, so I'm also usually 50 odd click-bait stories behind...

Doubt they would admit that
It would just look like they hired their second choice

 

[Yardie]

The second question was: Given all we've seen of Mitchell over the last two seasons (and the three years before that when he was getting primed for this gig as part of our succession planning), is he the man to replace Clarkson in 2023 or do we search wider? Answer was an unanimous "he's the man, look no further."

If this is the case then THIS is bad governance.

 

[MrPremiership]

There it is.

Clarko going to the board had nothing to do with the possibility of losing Sam.

Clarko says otherwise

 

[deanc]

Doubt they would admit that
It would just look like they hired their second choice

OK then, is Sam himself on record of even suggesting that he has been approached by the Pies...?

 

[Lickmesocks]

It did according to Clarko - has said he didn't want to lose Sam if the board wanted him to take over

The job was clarkos. His future was secure for the next 18 months . No discussions had taken place according to Clarko. Imagine if he turned the ship around and got us into the finals next year.

Asking the Board to make a call now is what killed his job. We are bottom of the ladder have been playing poorly for 2 years and the media is all over us . How can any board promise more than 18 months job security on 1.2 million a year beyond that timeline in the current climate?

We will never know the full truth but what he (Clarko) has reported is what we are all going on and that is he wanted hard decisions made now, and the board was under the pump to make a long term call now.

Clarko rolled the dice big time and unfortunately the dice didn’t fall his way.

 

[Bugs1977]

Rooster Box goes alright