SA Footy

Carlton retains coach Pagan

September 06, 2006 DENIS Pagan will stay on as Carlton coach for the next two AFL seasons, club president Graham Smorgon said tonight.

Pagan had been under increasing pressure to keep his job after the Blues claimed a second successive wooden spoon this year.

Assistant coach Barry Mitchell made a pitch to the Carlton board today to replace Pagan, but the board decided to honour the remaining two years of Pagan's lucrative contract.

"I've been in consultation with Denis during the course of the day and Denis is aware of this decision," Smorgon said.

"The board, all of whom are standing with us today, totally support this review and we're really pleased at finally being able to confirm this decision."

Carlton is now expected to make sweeping changes to its assistant coaching staff.

Former Carlton champion full-back Stephen Silvagni is set to be offered an assistant coaching position, and Mitchell is likely to lose his job.

The Blues have only won 21 of 88 matches since Pagan replaced Wayne Brittain as coach four years ago.

Pagan coached the Kangaroos to the 1996 and 1999 premierships.

AAP

as I said dasy ago...it was never going to happen, financially, morally and footy brains has ruled the day...

financially yes, morally maybe, footy brains no (in my opinion)

Silvani will come to the club as an assistant, he will obviously be the next coach in waiting, so Pagan will feel the heat

I hear Pagan has no support from Nick Stevens and Kouta and most players side with these two rather than Pagan

i think the club is in for another season of misery

Bottom line either Kernahan or Pagan will go at the end of next year as it will be one or the other. My tip is that it will be Pagan, becasue if he hasn't got the backing of the players (i.e. they won't play for him like Geelong this year) Carlton are doomed for a looooooong year.

Much more prudent to pay out one year rather than two, Silvagni will have a year under his belt as assistant coach, and the kids will have had more game time hence will be ready to go in 2008 for a tilt at the finals i.e. finish somewhere between 7-10.

If Pagan goes all-right the anti-Pagan faction on the board will lose the un-decided vote and they will be forced off the board.

One thing is for certain next year the board room and coaches box at Carlton will have a couple of fault lines running through them.

1980 Tassie Medalist

SPOT ON

Hooray. I was a bit worried about Carlton snaffling Cresswell there. While Cresswell isn't a shoe-in for the yet to be not even vacant position at Catland, I believe he is the best bet for the Catters. Surely Bomber is gone.

regards,

REB

Apparently, Mitchell made a pitch to the board for the coaching gig.

WTF is going on down there?

Rik E Boy wrote:Hooray. I was a bit worried about Carlton snaffling Cresswell there. While Cresswell isn't a shoe-in for the yet to be not even vacant position at Catland, I believe he is the best bet for the Catters. Surely Bomber is gone.

regards,

REB

REB - wasnt Creswell an Assistant down there?

Magpiespower wrote:Apparently, Mitchell made a pitch to the board for the coaching gig.

WTF is going on down there?

Simple really...Mitchell wanted the job and went for it. Nothing wrong there.

Dutchy wrote:

Rik E Boy wrote:Hooray. I was a bit worried about Carlton snaffling Cresswell there. While Cresswell isn't a shoe-in for the yet to be not even vacant position at Catland, I believe he is the best bet for the Catters. Surely Bomber is gone.

regards,

REB

REB - wasnt Creswell an Assistant down there?

OTM Dutchy. Cresswell was the midfield coach in 2004 and is highly regarded by the players. I think the Cats need this (and someone who has played football in more recent times).

regards,

REB

MW wrote:

Magpiespower wrote:Apparently, Mitchell made a pitch to the board for the coaching gig.

WTF is going on down there?

Simple really...Mitchell wanted the job and went for it. Nothing wrong there.

& has since been sacked on the gounds of treason...

Punk Rooster wrote:& has since been sacked on the gounds of treason...

Now that makes sense...

Somewhere today, either on the net or the Sun, Cats fulback on behalf of the playing group stated if Cresswell gets the job, he and many high profile players are out

Reckons the player group is behind bomber.

Coorong wrote:Somewhere today, either on the net or the Sun, Cats fulback on behalf of the playing group stated if Cresswell gets the job, he and many high profile players are out

Reckons the player group is behind bomber.

Would be interesting to see what happens then if Bomber does get the chop and Cresswell get the gig, if the high profile players would stand by the comment and leave. If I was Cresswell, and they didn't leave, I'd sack them.

Just remembered, Scarlet said it and quoted by Mike Sheahan, back page of todays Sun

At least another two spoons in the cupboard then with Pagan coaching.

I heard Costa came out in support of Bomber today, can anyone confirm this ?

If he did, there is the end of bomber