MFC confirm Bailey's extension

[big tuna 0]

I would love to know what sort of key performance indicators & criteria that need to be met/passed in order for the club to offer him a contract. I would say at this stage their expectations of Bailey are extremely low, he hasn't proved much other than being able to turn over a list and get some improvement from some players whilst other players have gone sideways or backwards. Tactically he has shown at times he is inept or is not capable of getting his players to carry out his instructions (one of the two). There is only so much you can do when you just plain and simple don't have the cattle, however when he was signed Bailey was signed as being a teacher and developer of players. I think the jury is still out whether he is capable of doing this. The players don't appear to have learned anything regarding kicking, handballing and running through zones. They continue to fail to make space to run into or run at all. The clubs contested footy is poor.

As a coach surely the bare minimum that is expected of you is that you get your players mentally ready, that your players can execute simple skills & that the team play hard contested football. Tell me if I'm wrong but I don't see much evidence that Bailey is going to instill that at this moment in time. I think expectations need to be raised if we are going to become a great club again, the bar is low at the moment due to our considerably young list. I just wonder if its too low in terms of asking for the basics of AFL football to be displayed by all players on our list.

When the contract extensions were first announced I am sure I heard either Bailey or a club official mention on fox sports news that both parties had come to an agreement but that they were still working on some criteria/KPI's. I took that to mean he had to meet these criteria/KPI's in 2010 before the 1 year extension was activated. If that is in fact true the club has been very clever and given itself some wiggle-room while at the same time taken the public scrutiny off Bailey. However, those criteria/KPI's could be for 2011 and determine how much Bailey gets paid. Either way I'm glad the club is making the coach accountable for team performance.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

"The Melbourne Football Club today announced that senior coach Dean Bailey has signed a new two year agreement for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, effectively extending his tenure by one year."

I'm not interested in going to war over this but it quite clearly states that the coach has signed a new contract. If the club agrees to a new contract and announces that one has been signed then.......

Was this agreement allegedly signed by Bailey conditional on matters to be resolved and agreed by both parties in the later more formal employment contract alleged by Sheahan?

As another poster said there could still be wriggle room for both parties but I cannot believe MFC would come so far and backflip in a knee jerk manner on this. Saturday was terrible but surely it could not have been out of the lower end of possible expectations given what they know about the list.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

If the Board are prepared to extend his contract then they clearly have made a judgement about him.

I think they realise the gaps in the list and the potential problems this has caused to MFC. I suspect behind closed doors the Club realises this is going to be a hard season and hence the message of patience. All be it last Saturday was a poor showing but there were clearly many reasons for this and not just possibly the Coach. I can see this patience being tested

If the Club do walk away from extneding Baliey's contract then I would have to ask questions about what their vision and why its so easily spooked.

Totally agree.

[Range Rover 1,935]

If the Club do walk away from extneding Baliey's contract then I would have to ask questions about what their vision and why its so easily spooked.

I agree with this last line. If Bailey were to get the chop then the club powerbrokers would have to have the spotlight turned on them too.

[Still Waiting 94]

Give Bailey until round 6, or at the latest Rd 8, to see if our team improves a wee bit.

He has chosen not to sign this offered contract, as it was written.

If no improvement is shown, we get a new coach and try something different.

Do we all think that this club has ANOTHER 2 seasons to start showing improvement?

We would be totally broke before then!

People, this situation is serious and needs careful planning and hard decisions to be made.

Stop burying your heads in the sand!

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

If the Board are prepared to extend his contract then they clearly have made a judgement about him.

I think they realise the gaps in the list and the potential problems this has caused to MFC. I suspect behind closed doors the Club realises this is going to be a hard season and hence the message of patience. All be it last Saturday was a poor showing but there were clearly many reasons for this and not just possibly the Coach. I can see this patience being tested

If the Club do walk away from extneding Baliey's contract then I would have to ask questions about what their vision and why its so easily spooked.

Actually I'm not so sure about that.

Yes, clearly if suddenly Bailey was to be revealed as not secure, then that's an indictment on the club itself. But if we cop 4 100+ point thrashings, plus every other game 10 goal losses or more, then if there's a way to get him out, and the fans, members, former players, and God forbid a rival ticket are calling for the head of Bailey or the heads of the board... who will be the scapegoat? I'm not saying it's a desirable situation, or even a likely one (I think the ship WILL right itself as the season wears on)... But it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Personally I think they'll wait until the side pulls its finger out... and the following Tuesday do a presser showing the signed contract. Just to get the media off his back. Now... to get that digit removed...

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Actually I'm not so sure about that.

Yes, clearly if suddenly Bailey was to be revealed as not secure, then that's an indictment on the club itself. But if we cop 4 100+ point thrashings, plus every other game 10 goal losses or more, then if there's a way to get him out, and the fans, members, former players, and God forbid a rival ticket are calling for the head of Bailey or the heads of the board... who will be the scapegoat? I'm not saying it's a desirable situation, or even a likely one (I think the ship WILL right itself as the season wears on)... But it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Personally I think they'll wait until the side pulls its finger out... and the following Tuesday do a presser showing the signed contract. Just to get the media off his back. Now... to get that digit removed...

If Bailey is not secure then the Club has lied to members and supporters in their February press release. And Schwab, Connolly and the Board should be put on notice if that is the case (I dont know if or think it is the case).

If the Board's strategy depends upon the next few weeks then they dont have a strategy and I am interested then in a rival ticket's strategy. I think the Club realises this is going to be a hard year. More so than many supporters.

But if the performances dont improve then it will be a very bumpy ride for all stakeholders regardless of the situation with Bailey.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Give Bailey until round 6, or at the latest Rd 8, to see if our team improves a wee bit.

He has chosen not to sign this offered contract, as it was written.

If no improvement is shown, we get a new coach and try something different.

Do we all think that this club has ANOTHER 2 seasons to start showing improvement?

We would be totally broke before then!

People, this situation is serious and needs careful planning and hard decisions to be made.

Stop burying your heads in the sand!

Why not just toss coins an odd number of times and work it out from there?

How do you know that Bailey has chosen anything? And that it is just the Coach styming performance?

[demoniac 1,330]

Not much news about Mike?

Non story. At the coin coaches are on these days of course there will be little sticking points that need to be ironed out in the fine print in the contract.

[jayceebee31 759]

Why not just toss coins an odd number of times and work it out from there?

How do you know that Bailey has chosen anything? And that it is just the Coach styming performance?

The truth is we haven't got a clue what is going on.We are all guessing. However, if the fact is- as Sheehan has reported that both has not signed- there must be a a snag somewhere. It might have been that if the players do not seem to be producing for him in the first say, 4 rounds , then the extention is off- this may have been based on the way we went in the NAB cup.

Edited April 2, 2010 by jayceebee31

[Range Rover 1,935]

Not much news about Mike?

Non story. At the coin coaches are on these days of course there will be little sticking points that need to be ironed out in the fine print in the contract.

Why is it a non-story?

One the one hand the club unambiguously stated on their website that Bailey signed the contract extension.

Now it comes to light that this isn't the case at all.

This should rightly raise eyebrows.

[Roost It 1,434]

So we want the club to front the media in 6 - 8 weeks time and say what exactly. We changed our minds. He was the right guy 8 weeks ago but he's not now. Our exhaustive review found him to be the right man for the job and we announced that but now we've changed our minds. You reckon the publicity we're getting now is bad. Who would coach us. Please don't say Connolly, he's a proven dud as a coach. Lyon? that great Under 12's coach. Thankfully our leaders aren't as short sighted as some supporters.

[QueenC 74]

So we want the club to front the media in 6 - 8 weeks time and say what exactly. We changed our minds. He was the right guy 8 weeks ago but he's not now. Our exhaustive review found him to be the right man for the job and we announced that but now we've changed our minds. You reckon the publicity we're getting now is bad. Who would coach us. Please don't say Connolly, he's a proven dud as a coach. Lyon? that great Under 12's coach. Thankfully our leaders aren't as short sighted as some supporters.

Paul Roos is out of a job at the end of the season !!!

I don't mean to sound naive here but I am so......

A number of people here have asked why the club would go back on the apparent deal. Well we don't actually know it is the club automatically,

maybe Bailey has an issue that needs resolving before he signs the contract. I don't know, but there has also been mention of the fact that we "signed" him up

just to avoid some poor publicity in regards to the will he won't he merry go round that happens if an unsuccessful coach is out of contract.

Well I hope that is not true because that is not a good enough reason to offer an extension.

[QueenC 74]

The truth is we haven't got a clue what is going on.We are all guessing. However, if the fact is- as Sheehan has reported that both has not signed- there must be a a snag somewhere.

What or who is a complete mystery, and jumping to conclusions about something we don't yet know about is a little pointless.....

[Adam The God 30,126]

As a coach surely the bare minimum that is expected of you is that you get your players mentally ready, that your players can execute simple skills & that the team play hard contested football. Tell me if I'm wrong but I don't see much evidence that Bailey is going to instill that at this moment in time. I think expectations need to be raised if we are going to become a great club again, the bar is low at the moment due to our considerably young list. I just wonder if its too low in terms of asking for the basics of AFL football to be displayed by all players on our list.

It's a very good point this. I generally sit within the "give it time" camp, but you're right, all the players on our list should be able to execute the fundamental skills of the game consistently (otherwise I may as well get out there myself). However, the pressure these players are under is relevant to their execution of skills, but often the direction seems to be to handball and when they do, it ends up placing them in more trouble. Once in this position they then commit skill errors. The blame for this should really be placed upon Bailey, now that he's basically built his own list. As for contract negotiations, I don't believe a word of it. Alright, so it hasn't been signed but it will be.

[jayceebee31 759]

What or who is a complete mystery, and jumping to conclusions about something we don't yet know about is a little pointless.....

Yes this may be true but to the contrary it could be that one party does not proceed.And that maybe not pointless.Could be a massive goal.

[QueenC 74]

Yes this may be true but to the contrary it could be that one party does not proceed.And that maybe not pointless.Could be a massive goal.

If one party chooses not to proceed, that would be very pointy (among other things).....

All I am saying if lets not jump the gun!!!

[Roost It 1,434]

Yes this may be true but to the contrary it could be that one party does not proceed.And that maybe not pointless.Could be a massive goal.

Ok so we move on Bailey. What do we say about our so called agreement? Who coaches us? What does it say about us as a club?

[dee-luded 2,959]

Ok so we move on Bailey. What do we say about our so called agreement? Who coaches us? What does it say about us as a club?

Bails has been signed on.

Earlier in the proceedings.

Demons clarify contract situation

"In response to Mike Sheahan’s article in today’s Herald Sun, the Melbourne Football Club confirms the following in relation to Dean Bailey’s contract extension.

The Club, Dean and his management reached agreement in writing prior to announcing the contract extension earlier this year.

We are currently in the process of finalising his formal contractual agreement, which required clarification of some non-material matters. This will be completed as a matter of course. "

http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/7415/newsid/91571/default.aspx

[Whispering_Jack 29,777]

An unsigned contract is not legally binding.

Actually, there are millions of contracts entered into in this country on a daily basis and they're all legally binding and relatively very few of them are in writing or signed. When you buy a ticket at the railway station you enter into a contract with Metroline (or whatever they're called) whether or not you sign the ticket. Most contracts don't need to be evidenced in writing for them to be enforceable (the main exception to that rule being contracts for the sale of land) but a written contract is helpful in proving the existence of an agreement and in aiding its interpretation.

In this instance, I'm sure there won't be any drama and the parties will put pen to paper. The situation with Dean Bailey and the development of the football team is well known and a loss (albeit a stinker) in round 1 to a team that won a flag 18 months ago shouldn't change things.

[Felix 92]

From the MFC webpage.

Demons clarify contract situation

8:11 PM Fri 02 April, 2010

In response to Mike Sheahan’s article in today’s Herald Sun, the Melbourne Football Club confirms the following in relation to Dean Bailey’s contract extension.

The Club, Dean and his management reached agreement in writing prior to announcing the contract extension earlier this year.

We are currently in the process of finalising his formal contractual agreement, which required clarification of some non-material matters. This will be completed as a matter of course.

[e25 5]

Obviously Sheahan is desperately trying to create a "coach-in-crisis" situation where there is none.

Gotta sell papers somehow, even if it is after only one round.

says it all, really.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Bails has been signed on.

Earlier in the proceedings.

Demons clarify contract situation

"In response to Mike Sheahan's article in today's Herald Sun, the Melbourne Football Club confirms the following in relation to Dean Bailey's contract extension.

The Club, Dean and his management reached agreement in writing prior to announcing the contract extension earlier this year.

We are currently in the process of finalising his formal contractual agreement, which required clarification of some non-material matters. This will be completed as a matter of course. "

http://www.melbourne...71/default.aspx

Bump.

[Still Waiting 94]

Yeah, yeah, we can wait another 2 or 3 years to start getting successful on the field!

With little or no success this year our club will suffer unimaginably. For a start: membership! How good is it now?

Lets just let the club sit on it's hands and wait for success to knock on our door, yeah right.

That is losers mentality. Who want's to be a winner?

Bailey hasn't changed the winning mentality particularly of the younger players at the club, let alone the pathetic efforts by the experienced ones.

"Miller should definitely be a leader around the club" was the catch cry of many, Bailey agreed at the time!!!!!

Do some of you not realise how serious our plight still is?

We need to keep trying to improve the on field scene and if we are still in the lowest spot at seasons end, certain people will look pretty ordinary.

Some forumers keep putting down anyone who suggests more personel changes are needed but have no concrete suggestions other than wait and see! What.....forever? 08,09,this year,next year: then what?

At least I put up ideas to try, because the way we are headed is not working, nor will it.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

At least I put up ideas to try, ....

Sounds like a load of mindless bleating and whinging without any thoughtful recommendations.