Melbourne's bid for an AFL-funded multi-million dollar restructure comes with the club still struggling to lure an experienced football boss and uncertainty lingering over the replacement for president Don McLardy.

McLardy will accompany Demons' chief executive Peter Jackson to Friday's AFL Commission talks but is unlikely to remain at the helm of the club for much longer as the league, along with Jackson, moves to streamline the club's board.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/ailing-dees-to-put-case-to-afl-commission-20130613-2o75z.html#ixzz2W8deB6Ji

How does she know any of the above, obviously with her track record of backing Melbourne 100% she has been briefed thoroughly by Peter Jackson, if you want something a bit more edifying Reader's Feast is doing a special on Fiction

Regardless of the level of truth in some of the more subjective points made by Caro can we finally all agree that Schwab was an absolute disgrace as a CEO (Connolly contract), and maybe, just maybe, the players were right to want him gone back in 2011?

The club backed the wrong man and now every supporter at our footy club has to watch the worst Melbourne team in 30 years get flogged every week. Good Times.

Whilst I trust Caro as far as I could throw her, the claim about Connolly is a strange one. If I'm understanding it correctly, he would be paid out an a contract that was basically signed yesterday?

She is usually on the money with her information and I think most of us would agree with the steps that need to be taken. It will be interesting to see how things pan out over the next couple of months.

The FD boss is crucial to everything coming together.

The word from Tim Watson this morning was that Don McLardy would step down today. Things are moving now....

Whilst I trust Caro as far as I could throw her, the claim about Connolly is a strange one. If I'm understanding it correctly, he would be paid out an a contract that was basically signed yesterday?

I think the news of the contract was what we found out basically yesterday. It was signed under Schwab's watch.

Regardless of the level of truth in some of the more subjective points made by Caro can we finally all agree that Schwab was an absolute disgrace as a CEO (Connolly contract), and maybe, just maybe, the players were right to want him gone back in 2011?

The club backed the wrong man and now every supporter at our footy club has to watch the worst Melbourne team in 30 years get flogged every week. Good Times.

This is the one thing I struggle with but it's now time to move on.

Whilst I trust Caro as far as I could throw her, the claim about Connolly is a strange one. If I'm understanding it correctly, he would be paid out an a contract that was basically signed yesterday?

Connolly's contract status is about a month old, Caro is just recycling again, before we all start grandstanding on this topic, can we wait and see what the Club website says, assume it will say something today, and we can take that as FACT, not a sound bite to make sure you listen after the ad break or buy a subscription to the AGE online to keep up to date with 'breaking news'

I think the news of the contract was what we found out basically yesterday. It was signed under Schwab's watch.

Yeah I understand that, by "yesterday" I meant recently. By most accounts Connolly is quite adept in his defined role.

I'm not saying there is any merit to it, but that would strike me as a pretty bold decision.

Another 'Sack Neeld' thread.

Sigh.

buy a subscription to the AGE online

apparently it is a very cold day in hell today

My reading was always that Connelly's contract was part of the reason he fell on his sword - protect the club and it will look after him in return.

geez 600K just handed to you, 10 years of the average wage,as a reward for being an utter failure.. not a bad line of work this coaching stuff

I will laugh so hard if she is proven on wrong on many of those counts. How did Schwab extend Connolly's contract?

Schwab may have set things up, but Jackson was began in the role on 1 May 2013, and Connolly's contract extension was announced on 31 May 2013. So Caro, how exactly did Connolly's extension happen under Schwab???

Also, if Jackson didn't want Connolly to continue I doubt he would have allowed an announcement about Connolly's extension to go public.

I also don't believe the statement that Neeld will be removed as coach by the end of the month. I think Jackson has a fair bit of integrity from what we've seen to date, and he's not going to say "I'm going to give Neeld some clean air" (or whatever the phrase was), and that the football department needed to be sorted first, and then backflip and get rid of Neeld just 3 weeks later.

She's just holding the lines that she has held for some time. Nothing to see here people, unless you want to feel dumber for the experience of reading anything Caroline Wilson writes.

She also stated Jim Stynes will be reinstated as club President.

Yeah I understand that, by "yesterday" I meant recently. By most accounts Connolly is quite adept in his defined role.

I'm not saying there is any merit to it, but that would strike me as a pretty bold decision.

Might be more about cleaning out anyone that has been connected to a divisive past at the club. Will it be throwing the baby out with the bath water, that I wouldn't know.

And we will be renamed the Melbourne Zombies?

I will laugh so hard if she is proven on wrong on many of those counts. How did Schwab extend Connolly's contract?

Schwab may have set things up, but Jackson was began in the role on 1 May 2013, and Connolly's contract extension was announced on 31 May 2013. So Caro, how exactly did Connolly's extension happen under Schwab???

Also, if Jackson didn't want Connolly to continue I doubt he would have allowed an announcement about Connolly's extension to go public.

I also don't believe the statement that Neeld will be removed as coach by the end of the month. I think Jackson has a fair bit of integrity from what we've seen to date, and he's not going to say "I'm going to give Neeld some clean air" (or whatever the phrase was), and that the football department needed to be sorted first, and then backflip and get rid of Neeld just 3 weeks later.

She's just holding the lines that she has held for some time. Nothing to see here people, unless you want to feel dumber for the experience of reading anything Caroline Wilson writes.

I think Chris announced it to remind people he is still around, not so sure that was when it was signed. I think you might find it was a Schwab deal.

I also don't believe the statement that Neeld will be removed as coach by the end of the month. I think Jackson has a fair bit of integrity from what we've seen to date, and he's not going to say "I'm going to give Neeld some clean air" (or whatever the phrase was), and that the football department needed to be sorted first, and then backflip and get rid of Neeld just 3 weeks later.

The last time I was in China during the football season, 186 happened and Bailey was sacked...I depart for a couple of weeks in China, leaving next Thursday.

Connolly's contract status is about a month old, Caro is just recycling again, before we all start grandstanding on this topic, can we wait and see what the Club website says, assume it will say something today, and we can take that as FACT, not a sound bite to make sure you listen after the ad break or buy a subscription to the AGE online to keep up to date with 'breaking news'

Like when McLardy said on the club website that there would be no changes and Schwab was sacked the next day?

I think Chris announced it to remind people he is still around, not so sure that was when it was signed. I think you might find it was a Schwab deal.

If that is true, I doubt Jackson would have been happy.

Is she live blogging the visit, with her microphone pen she "dropped" on her visit yesterday.

If that is true, I doubt Jackson would have been happy.

Apparently he wasn't.

I think Caro definitely has some inside info and it is my view most of her inside info comes from the AFL. In turn she writes some things in her columns that the AFL want to get out into the public.

Things could move very quickly from here on in!

Here we go...Bring it on i say.

I want to go to the footy again and sing our magnificent dam song!!

Here we go...Bring it on i say.

I want to go to the footy again and sing our magnificent dam song!!

You need to get there early WYL, they play it every week!

But you are right, bring on the planned changes to get us on the right track. Today could be defining for our club, even if it goes largely unnoticed. I'll take any hand out we can get off it will get us closer to a flag.

Most of yo stuff is good. We need a "mongrel"president who is going to get things done and if that person stands on toes so be it.If the supporter or the elitist don't like it they should bug off. I am sick of "cream puffs" running the club.

Actually what is Neil Craig's function at the club?To me he is a waste of "space". Money for nothing like the our polies.

Once again I say to the supporter don't be frighten if a Jeff Kennett style of president gets the No.1 job.

Also mentioned before certain players are untouchable (can't be dropped Sylvia,Jamar and ....), MFC be very careful the likes of Gawn may p.ss off to the likes of St.KIlda f.c.