MELBOURNEfc is well advanced with its process for the appointment of a new Head Coach.

The Club has completed the first two stages of the process, and is now moving to the stage of interviewing preferred candidates over the next few weeks, before drawing up a short-list for final discussions and an appointment.

The first stage involved the Club seeking the perspectives of a range of people within the Club, and then separately from a range of people outside the Club. These included Danny Frawley, Garry Lyon, Robert Walls, Mark Maclure, Anthony Ingerson, Peter Schwab and Gerard Healy. Views were sought on issues such as the team list and its strengths and weaknesses, Club profile, game trends and contemporary coaching. Those involved in that valuable process now have no further role to play, save for Garry Lyon who will be involved in reviewing short-listed candidates in a few weeks.

The second stage involved the Club reviewing the material from internal sources -- including the team leadership group, coaches and support staff -- and external sources, and finalising its criteria and process. The Club has a sharp focus on its needs from a range of priority criteria. It has reviewed and selected the best regarded leadership skills assessment as an additional tool, selected a recruiting firm to assist in background checking, and has advertised the position formally to allow all possible candidates to come forward.

Over the next few weeks, the selection panel, headed by CEO Steve Harris and Football Director Chris Fagan, will be meeting candidates before more formal presentations and discussions take place. The first round of presentations by high prospect candidates will be heard by the CEO and Football Director, and also by Nathan Burke, a former AFL champion and now leadership consultant and a Board director.

From there, a short-list will participate in final discussions involving the Chairman, Paul Gardner, and other Club directors and the input of both Nathan Burke and Garry Lyon, before Club officials make an appointment. The Club's strong preference is made to ensure that the Club is in the strongest position immediately preceding the first week of October, when trade and draft decisions are made.

The Club appreciates that the appointment is of major interest to members, and the media, and that as a result there is no shortage of speculation and comment by various people with various agendas, and with varying degrees of knowledge of the facts.

However, the Club has resolved to make the best possible decision, not necessarily the quickest, and to find the right coach to make a difference at our Club.

Contrary to some reports, the Club has not "signed" anyone; it has had some contact with all the candidates of major interest; and now has a strong field of prospective coaches.

The discussions to date have confirmed to the Club that it provides a fantastic opportunity for someone seeking to succeed at the highest level. Those who have looked closely at the Club's player list, and the extraordinary injury impact, believe the Club is well positioned to bounce back from the 2007 season, and over the next few years will be well positioned to end a 40-year-plus premiership drought for one of the world's oldest clubs.

The Club sees 2008 as a celebration of 150 years of life at the heart of our great game, but more importantly, as the first year of the Club's future.

Cheers for that, i didn't realize he was so far advanced already.

A reasonable process.

I just wish the supporters (and particularly the knockers looking for anything to fault about MFC at the moment) didn't jump to conclusions, and that "seeking the perspectives of a range of people ... including Garry Lyon and Robert Walls" didn't become "Robert Walls is picking the coach".

i didnt realise burkey was in our team

Yeah he said he will have a little say in the latter stages, said on sen a few times that his role is small.

Has a coach ever been officially interviewed for the role while currently coachign another team before? I knwo it's happened before but normally off the record.

i saw something in the paper about roos coaching carlton, highly unlikely i think

Has a coach ever been officially interviewed for the role while currently coachign another team before? I knwo it's happened before but normally off the record.

If you are refering to Sheedy, he probably has the EFC permission to talk to other clubs (if he needs it).

VOSS, SHEEDS ON DEE RADAR

If Voss is asking Frawley to be his assistant maybe they will coach MFC. Im sure Frawley would like to be apart of his sons football deveopment

If Voss is asking Frawley to be his assistant maybe they will coach MFC. Im sure Frawley would like to be apart of his sons football deveopment

James Frawley is actually his nephew. Just for reference