Gold Coast CEO Mark Evans says Damien Hardwick’s feedback about someday returning to the AFL teaching fold are “not relevant” to the Suns and their key focus this season – enjoying finals soccer for the very first time.
Hardwick despatched shockwaves by means of the AFL final month when he give up as Richmond coach after 14 seasons and three premierships at Punt Road.
The 50-year-old declared he was “looking forward to a break” however barely a month after his Richmond send-off, Hardwick advised the Dyl & Friends Podcast: “At some stage I will probably step back in (to coaching), when that is, I’m not too sure.”
Hardwick is because of jet off for a European vacation from subsequent week however has dropped a grenade behind him on the way in which out by fuelling hypothesis over which golf equipment will chase his companies from subsequent season and past.
One membership seemingly at all times linked to high-profile teaching targets is Gold Coast.
Last month Stuart Dew scoffed on the thought he could be changed by Hardwick as Suns coach.
When requested if the membership had been in touch with Hardwick, Evans mentioned: “I haven’t seen the comments (from Hardwick) to be honest.
“We’ve had commentary about Stuey’s position in previous years and our approach has been to create stability, provide him with the support that he needs and most importantly to maintain everybody’s focus on the job at-hand and that is to maximise the opportunity across the remainder of this season and push towards finals.”
Dew is a well-liked determine on the membership with each employees and gamers and below his management Gold Coast has retained the majority of its top-line expertise, which had beforehand been a significant problem.
Last season he signed a two-year contract extension to the tip of 2024, ending hypothesis Alastair Clarkson might take over on the Suns.
“To be clear, Stuey is contracted and in our plans,” Evans mentioned.
“Over the last three or four years we have said we would want to be in a position to push towards finals this year and next year. At 7-7 that opportunity is firmly in front of us.
“Absolutely. He’s our coach – and whenever this has come up in the past, what we have done is make sure he has the right support around him over the last few years.
“We’ve added in Neil Craig, Wayne Campbell, Steven King and others to make sure that he has the right support so that we can have that success.”
Originally revealed as Gold Coast Suns AFL: CEO Mark Evans responds to Damien Hardwick hypothesis
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
