Talking Footy

Scott Spits at Windy Hill | July 25, 2007 - 12:11PM

Essendon Football Club managing director Peter Jackson is this afternoon fronting a media conference alongside Kevin Sheedy to explain the club's decision not to re-appoint the veteran coach at the end of the 2007 season.

"I'm here to announce that the board has made a decision this week that Kevin's contract will not be renewed," Mr Jackson told reporters at Windy Hill.

"I emphasise he will be coaching until round 22, and to the finals I hope... he wants to, we want him to.''

Mr Jackson said the club's decision to part with its coach of 27 years had been a difficult one but had the support of the majority of the board.

"It's been a very difficult decision, its been a challenging decision,'' he said. "He has had the most profound effect on the football club."

Sheedy said he had been discussing his future with the club since January, after cricketers Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath announced their retirements.

He told reporters he was grateful for his time at the club.

"They've been absolutely fantastic as a club,'' Sheedy said. "You don't often get to coach the club that you barrack for - I've been very lucky like that.''

"You don't get a 27-year client that often.''

Football legend Ron Barassi said he was glad Sheedy would coach the bombers until the end of the season.

"I think that's the least they could do," Barassi told Southern Cross Radio. "Essendon owe Kevin Sheedy a lot in my opinion.''

This morning a feeling of shock descended on Windy Hill as reports began surfacing that the club would announce it would not renew Sheedy's contract after an astonishing 27 seasons as coach.

Up to 20 TV crews, photographers and journalists arrived at Windy Hill as players begin assembling ahead of a midday media conference.

Sheedy had always indicated he would accept the board's decision with good grace if they opted to end his tenure.

Reports suggested Sheedy was likely to stand aside immediately, but he will remain at the helm until round 22 with the Bombers still in with a chance of qualifying for the finals.

Supporters driving past Windy Hill this morning have vented their frustration with the club, with several shouting as they passed.

"You oughta be ashamed of yourselves," one man said as the media looked on. "He put this place on the map."

The Bombers currently sit in 10th place on the ladder, with eight wins and eight losses. The team has lost four of their past five games.

Sheedy made his name as a player at Richmond, representing
the Tigers in 251 games from 1967-79, including three premierships.

He replaced Barry Davis as Essendon coach in 1981 and led the Bombers to four premierships in 1984, 1985, 1993 and 2000.

If Sheedy chooses to stand aside straight away, he will have coached Essendon in 629 matches. That puts him second on the all-time list behind Collingwood legend Jock McHale, who coached the Magpies 714 times from 1912-49.

He recently broke McHale's record for most games as a player and coach.

Sheedy becomes the fourth AFL coach to be pushed aside this season, joining Neale Daniher (Melbourne), Chris Connolly (Fremantle) and Denis Pagan (Carlton).

with AAP and Dan Harrison

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/genera ... 61446.html

8:50 PM Mon 23 July, 2007 | Back

Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network
News

KEVIN SHEEDY is still coach of Essendon after a board meeting at the club tonight.

Despite speculation that the meeting would decide his future at the club, Sheedy said his contract wasn't discussed. He also said he expected to see out his contract, which runs to the end of the season.

"I wouldn’t have thought anything else other than that will happen. It's a pretty stable club," he said.

Sheedy said he understood the speculation about his tenure at the club.

"I've never been nervous about my future, ever," he said. "It doesn't matter. I love coaching, but if you don't coach, you move on to the next part of your life.

"Whatever that is and whenever that is, I'll do that well, too."

Sheedy said the meeting had covered "where the team is at" and his plans for this weekend's match with Adelaide.

Sheedy said he would visit his old friend Denis Pagan tonight, who was sacked by Carlton earlier today, and "share a nice red".

"There'd be a bit of knowledge around that table, wouldn't there?," Sheedy said.
After the board meeting, Essendon released the following statement from chairman Ray Horsburgh:

“As per our previous statement, the Essendon Football Club will not be commenting on timelines or processes relating to the senior coaching position beyond 2007. To make comment would be totally unfair on Kevin Sheedy, his coaching panel and the players who are focussed on getting this side into the finals.

“We understand that this issue is of significant interest to the media but that is of no consequence to the Essendon Football Club board.

"We will make a decision in the best interests of the Essendon Football Club when and how we see fit."

Sad Day

Goodbye and Thankyou for the greatr times and memories Sheeds. I'll miss ya you crazy old bastard. Though I am sure you will still be around the AFL somewhere stirring the pot! =D>

That said, I would like the new coach to be Gary O'Donnell. He has served as an assistant under both Sheeds and Leigh Matthews. You dont do a much better apprenticeship than that. He knows how to win.

It'll be Neale Daniher.

And don't be surprised if Terry Wallace bites the dust - and guess who to make room for!

there will be coaches going left right and centre at the end of this season i mean whos going to coach the kangaroos when laidly heads over to freo

yesterday marked an end of an era, as a West Coast Supporter, I will miss Sheeds..he just had the uncanny ability to piss off a whole state and laugh about it..

The Martians, aliens, marshmallows, jacket waving are all part of the Sheedy phenomena..

Personally, while I know Terry Wallace is there in Richmond, I think Sheedy will head home and the Tigers are going to be almost unstoppable...

I don't think Sheeds could even help the Tigers! lol

haha i dont reakon the tigers are ready to part with wallace yet i think he's got a couple of years left on his contract and they're gunna keep him round to see what he can do but who knows what might happen the AFL world is always full of suprises!

If he doesn't end up coaching, I hope he finds a role with the AFL. He has been fantastic for the development of the game in Australia and abroad. Well done Sheeds and good luck for the future.