In an uncharacteristic show of solidarity and support the Melbourne Football Club (MFC) Board has decided to put to bed the rumours and innuendo surrounding there beleaguered senior coach and extend Mark Neeld's contract to the end of 2015. Neeld's original contract was for three years up until the end of 2014, but the Board unanimously voted to extend Neeld's contract by another year to reinforce the message that, contrary to popular belief, the ailing club was going to stay the course in its rebuild. Recent media reports linking the Former Swans coach Paul Roos to the club have contributed to this bold move by the board, this and the unanimous support shown by the MFC players and Football department whom have all rallied around there Senior Coach. Rumours about AFL intervention have been quashed by the AFL CEO earlier this week who emphatically denied the AFL have any involvement in moves to replace a coach of one of its member organisation.

The above is not a real article but what I would be doing if I ran this club.

Why?

Because at some point this club "needs to grow a pair". Stop being pushed around by the Media and others and show some real grit. I have watched and read some of the defeatist carry on on these boards about sack the coach and starting again because its all too hard. Because apparently Roos or Williams or Worsfold are magically going to make this team better. Yeah Right pull the other one its got bells on it.

Well I still have faith in Neeld and the team he has gathered, I am happy with incremental improvements because soon the steps will be become great strides and the players and people we have at the club will be forged into "The Hardest Football Team to Play"

I support Neeld because he has chosen to take the hardest route to success. He is recruiting the type of players that knows that you need work hard if you want to win. He has made choices based on what is proven and not on what is easiest or guesswork. The systems and plans he has set in place will make this team be successful and it will ensure sustained success.

Quite frankly I think it sucks that we are not winning but unlike some I look for the little positives that are becoming ingrained into the ethos of the team. Work hard, hunt the ball and never drop your head and Play out the game.

Sorry mods for starting a whole new thread but I just wanted to start a positive thread on our Coach rather than get my message lost in the Negativity that is being said about MN.

We can't do that because we don't know he's the one for us. Let's just wait out the season.

If they did that I would lose my sh!t.

It wouldn't be unprecedented, Richmond extended Hardwicks contract in either his 2nd or 3rd year when there was a lot of Rumours floating around about Malthouse

I am a Neeld fan but to the end of 2014 is long enough at this stage

What an awesome idea, extend Neelds contract when Roos, Worsfold, Clarkson and Choco may all be available at seasons end.

He's building a foundation but we don't know if he can take us any further, it wouldn't be wise.

If they did that I would lose my [censored].

Likewise.

I have to say that the faith being shown in this bloke, given the level of performance, is extraordinary.

Not even opening yourself up to the possibility that we get this appointment wrong, because it would be all too hard to start anew, is as damaging as any stance you can take on this issue.

Almost lost my [censored] when I saw the thread title.

Almost lost my [censored] when I saw the thread title.

Me too! just about spat my coffee all over the shop

I just had another gulp of wine... Looked good after that....

We did just this with Bailey after Rnd 1 was it, 2010?

Didn't work out so well...

Cripes i thought was another Mclardy Letter to the Members

Almost got on the Phone!!!

How many 'like' buttons can I have?

I have to say that the faith being shown in this bloke, given the level of performance, is extraordinary.

Not even opening yourself up to the possibility that we get this appointment wrong, because it would be all too hard to start anew, is as damaging as any stance you can take on this issue.

I would suggest that the easy option is writing-off a new coach who has a problematic list and 28 games at the helm, hoping some other bloke can immediately turn lemons into lemonade

Neelds job is to get the team to gel, play with passion and follow a good game plan. I dont see he's been able to do any of that...so why on earth would be we extending his contract? " growing a pair" doesnt mean sticking tight to a bad decision. Leave it til at least mid season but after that...every 100 point plus loss could and SHOULD bring with it the threat of execution.

Comparisons to Hardwick dont hold. His team was united at the end of his first season despite being in a hole at the start of it. Our hole is getting deeper into his 2nd year. Something is wrong folks....but Im not the only one saying that am I.

I would suggest that the easy option is writing-off a new coach who has a problematic list and 28 games at the helm, hoping some other bloke can immediately turn lemons into lemonade

There's nothing in it, the original recipe simply calls for castor sugar and water in addition to the fruit. Mark would be well up to that.

Root Beer? Now that's a different kettle of fish.

Um, he is contracted for another year already. Extending it would just be an entirely emotional act with no bearing on the situation except to increase our liability in the event that we do choose to dismiss him.

He's building a foundation but we don't know if he can take us any further, it wouldn't be wise.

a very rocky foundation at best - wait a couple of weeks I say

He's building a foundation but we don't know if he can take us any further, it wouldn't be wise.

He is, But it's not all new foundations,,, some is Underpinning existing structures, the good ones, & where the structure needs to be extended up & over...

Neeld is a mentally tough hombre`, & Is the type of fella to have lead the club... the type like our coat of arms, won't back off from his beliefs... It's Not Neeld I am concerned about. It's the panicking knee jerks, & maybe some on the board, who I wonder about & am concerned about, because this club is bound by perennial fear, negativeness, & over conservatism.

..... this is why we get nowhere & take no risks, whether it be in recruiting, or building training facilities, or building a Social Hub. It's a go nowhere, stay at home & get overtaken attitude.

there is a real lack of 'Take it on, 'Go for it', risk taking.... & this was not what I think 'Checker' brought in,,, & Smithy fostered... we've slipped back into the old ways previous to 'Checker', no doubt.

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He is, But it's not all new foundations,,, some is Underpinning existing structures, the good ones, & where the structure needs to be extended up & over...

Neeld is a mentally tough hombre`, & Is the type of fella to have lead the club... the type like our coat of arms, won't back off from his beliefs... It's Not Neeld I am concerned about. It's the panicking knee jerks, & maybe some on the board, who I wonder about & am concerned about, because this club is bound by perennial fear, negativeness, & over conservatism.

..... this is why we get nowhere & take no risks, whether it be in recruiting, or building training facilities, or building a Social Hub. It's a go nowhere, stay at home & get overtaken attitude.

there is a real lack of 'Take it on, 'Go for it', risk taking.... & this was not what I think 'Checker' brought in,,, & Smithy fostered... we've slipped back into the old ways previous to 'Checker', no doubt.

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yeah i agree, too many decisions made in the heat of the moment, he has the good part of two more seasons to show us why he is the right man for the job, and the old saying is that the last place you improve is on the field, so i think he should at the very least get this year

A fake article followed by a bunch of metaphors... That's about the extent of what those supporting Neeld can muster at this stage.

A fake article followed by a bunch of metaphors... That's about the extent of what those supporting Neeld can muster at this stage.

Forget the article, the rest of that post was pretty good and well thought out.

I'm not a total supporter of Neeld but the club needs cool heads to prevail and although I like the idea as a show of faith which could possibly be good for Neelds confidence, it could be a bit drastic and dangerous. Especially as he already has a year to go after this.

Thank God you made up that garbage,i nearly had a heart attack!!!

There is no possible reason to extend his contract when he has just under 2 seasons to run,he'll hardly be snapped up by another club.

Maybe his 5th or 6th gameplan just might work!