Craig Set to Leave

[Demonland 66,676]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-09-09/craig-set-to-leave-dees?utm_medium=RSS

NEW MELBOURNE coach Paul Roos does not expect interim coach Neil Craig to remain at the Demons.

Craig, a former coach at Adelaide, was appointed to the Demons in 2012 on a three-year contract as director of sports performance.

He took over as caretaker coach of the club in round 13 after Mark Neeld was sacked and coached the club to one win in 11 games.
The club will need to pay Craig out for the final year of his contract.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

Not surprising.

All the best Neil in your new ventures.

[Guest]

Would've liked him to stay, but interim coaches rarely stick around if they don't get the permanent gig. All the best to him, hope he gets a head coaching gig somewhere in the near future if that's what he wants.

[Demonstrate 38]

Sad to see Neil Craig leave the club. He is well respected by the players and it was commendable that all acknowledged his contribution to their development in speeches at the Best &Fairest. Best wishes for your future endeavors, Neil.

[Chook 14,628]

Would have been my preference to get the Big Gig should Peter Jackson not have been able to secure Paul Roos, thus giving us all stiffies for the next six months and putting him out of a job. Thanks for everything, Neil.

Edited September 9, 2013 by Chook

[dazzledavey36 49,582]

All the best Craigy. Your hard work and dedication this year has been outstanding. Deserves whatever sucess comes his way.

[Mono 454]

If Craig had got the main gig, I reckon it would have come with a succession plan of some sort.

[adsy 135]

Sad to see him go, wish him all the best.

[Jaded No More 59,541]

All the best Craig. Thank you for the enormous dedication, care and dignity that you've shown to our club over the past two years, and particularly after Neeld's sacking.

You certainly have the respect and gratitude of all Melbourne supporters.

[Sir Why You Little 35,223]

Thanks Neil. Did yourself proud ...

[Akum 2,660]

If Craig had got the main gig, I reckon it would have come with a succession plan of some sort.

In fact, can't help but wonder whether this is where the succession plan idea for Roos originated.

And if Craig hadn't been there thru the toxic time of Neeld, it could have been a lot worse.

[Dees2014 2,377]

Yes, Neil Craig is a quality guy, and a good coach. I hope he lands the Brisbane job who have apparently interviewed him.

I'm sure he will leave a positive legacy at the MFC, one of the few over the last two years.

[Ted Lasso 17,206]

Well done Craigy! reckon he might get the gig at the Lions anyway!

[Dee Fan 3,247]

Very disappointed with that I think he is one of the good guys of football, always upfront, no spin and an all round great guy.

Hope he gets the Brisbane gig, all the best Neil.

Edited September 9, 2013 by RobbieF

[Gorgoroth 12,369]

Agree with all the posts, Been great of us, hope he gets the lions gig.

[Apocalypse XXXI 243]

Carried out his duties at the club with class despite the extremely difficult circumstances although his record as a caretaker was probably not much better than the bloke he replaced. However, its hard to lay blame on him for that.

[rpfc 27,662]

The way Roos blurted it out on OTC I hope that they have already come to that conclusion and Craig is well aware because not 3 days ago Jackson said we would honour contracts should Craig not find somewhere else.

[beelzebub 22,582]

Again., thanks Neil. A genuine classy sort of bloke.

Good luck where ever you land........and No i wasnt a spy at training ( were we OD...lol )

[beelzebub 22,582]

The way Roos blurted it out on OTC I hope that they have already come to that conclusion and Craig is well aware because not 3 days ago Jackson said we would honour contracts should Craig not find somewhere else.

what..you dont think more than meets the eye hasnt already transpired with the hallowed walls? We see/hear the edited public consumption versions

[gsmith12 491]

Neil is a personable genuine bloke who did his best for MFC in more than one capacity.

Best of luck to him.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,534]

Most sport autobiographies are trite and inane. But if Neil Craig were to write one I suspect it would be a humdinger - honest, direct and informative. I'd love to read what he thinks about the last two years.

[rpfc 27,662]

what..you dont think more than meets the eye hasnt already transpired with the hallowed walls? We see/hear the edited public consumption versions

That was hardly the edited for public consumption version. That version would be "we will work that out with Neil in the coming weeks - he may wish to move on, but as Peter said last Friday - we will honour the contract of a very good footy brain and a good person."

Now that is pablum and I am not going to damn Roos for being honest but we are talking about another person here, and PJ left it in Craig's hands three days ago, that is where Roos should have left it in my opinion.

[Young Dee 1,303]

Damn - Thanks Craig

I wish we would stop paying out contracts!

[Vagg 2,422]

That was hardly the edited for public consumption version. That version would be "we will work that out with Neil in the coming weeks - he may wish to move on, but as Peter said last Friday - we will honour the contract of a very good footy brain and a good person."

Now that is pablum and I am not going to damn Roos for being honest but we are talking about another person here, and PJ left it in Craig's hands three days ago, that is where Roos should have left it in my opinion.

I agree with you. I was a little disappointed with the way Paul answered that question. Given the superb way Craigy has conducted himself these past few weeks, I kinda thought the answer was just a little insensitive. But, then again, Craigy would probably just shrug it off, and move on, the class act that he is.

Just hope he picks up a position that he will be happy with. I have to say it's disappointing to think it probably won't be with the MFC...

[Bossdog 2,002]

I don't think it was feasible to have both Neil and Roos at the same time....

Neil Craig was there as a mentor to a new inexperienced coach....I don't think Roos would need to be mentored...He would have his own ideas how to proceed and will now pick his ass coaches without having interference.....

I think Neil Crag was fantastic for Neeld and did a great service to the club by standing in as coach in a very difficult period of time for the club.....