FORMER Melbourne great David Schwarz is hoping that the Demons get “walloped” against Collingwood on Monday at the MCG so that more pressure goes on the potential axing of coach Mark Neeld.
Schwarz is calling for Neeld’s sacking as soon as possible with a desire to see immediate change in the hierarchy at the Demons.
Neeld retaliated at the comments at a press conference saying that Schwarz was being disrespectful to his former club.
“That sort of stuff is unhelpful given that the club that he used to play for is going through some tough times,” Neeld said.
“We all deal with things in different ways.”
“I’m really clear in my role to develop a group of mainly young footballers to be as good as they can. I don’t think it ever should be about one person,” Neeld said.
So speculation week after week with the Demons again expected to lose against the Pies – will it take a toll on Neeld and the players?
“It will have some impact because people are human,” Neeld said.
Neeld, however, is unlikely to step down as coach and the board would have to terminate his contract early if he was to leave the post as coach.
Melbourne doesn’t appear to be in any rush to replace the coach at this point and has not ruled out retaining him for another season to see out his contract.
But the external view is to replace not only the coach but also put a new board in place this year as well. Former Hawks president Jeff Kennett has been one touted to become the next Dees president and he appears more than willing to put his hand up.
”Why wait until the end of the year? Why not put a new board into place now?” Kennett told SEN Radio on Friday.
”You’ve got a new (chief executive) in Peter Jackson, who’s experienced, but he’s only going to be there for 18 months, so you need a new board now preparing the club for season 2014. If you don’t do it now and you wait for the end of the year I suspect and fear 2014 will also be wasted.”
