TonyK
CibbuanoLions chairman backs appointment
September 2nd 2008 08:33
BRISBANE LIONS chairman Tony Kelly has dismissed suggestions that the Lions acted hastily in appointing Michael Voss as coach just a day after the resignation of the club's three-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews.
The three-time premiership captain has no previous coaching experience but has agreed to a three-year deal.
The Lions' swift decision meant Voss quickly had to get out of his two-year deal to serve as an assistant coach at West Coast.
Kelly said on Tuesday that the club had begun discussing the possibility of Voss succeeding Matthews - as early as March - with Matthews' permission.
"The reason it's important to announce that is that people understand this club has carried out a massive due diligence on Michael Voss and that is why we have been able to announce his appointment within 24 hours of Leigh's resignation," Kelly said.
"But that succession plan was unable to be consummated because of a lack of an end date for Leigh,."
"We have been able to move swiftly due to the fact Leigh came to me early in the year to put together a succession plan concept involving Michael," Kelly said.
"The question was when it would happen, how it would happen or could it happen - it was an issue we had to address but we got the chance to address it late Sunday (when Matthews told the club he would resign)."
Kelly said the club was unconcerned by the fact that Voss had not had any coaching experience at an AFL club.
"He has not coached at AFL level but everyone has to start somewhere and we are going to back him all the way," he said.
"I see a lot of the qualities of Leigh Matthews in Michael - a strong manager, whose leadership skills are well documented."
Kelly also said the Lions did not go for Voss just because of his standing in Queensland.
"Michael is coaching the Lions because we believe he will be a good coach," Kelly said.
"The fact he is a big name and the fact he understands the Queensland market and the club are little bonuses but we believe Michael's job is to be the coach."
The three-time premiership captain has no previous coaching experience but has agreed to a three-year deal.
The Lions' swift decision meant Voss quickly had to get out of his two-year deal to serve as an assistant coach at West Coast.
Kelly said on Tuesday that the club had begun discussing the possibility of Voss succeeding Matthews - as early as March - with Matthews' permission.
"The reason it's important to announce that is that people understand this club has carried out a massive due diligence on Michael Voss and that is why we have been able to announce his appointment within 24 hours of Leigh's resignation," Kelly said.
"But that succession plan was unable to be consummated because of a lack of an end date for Leigh,."
"We have been able to move swiftly due to the fact Leigh came to me early in the year to put together a succession plan concept involving Michael," Kelly said.
"The question was when it would happen, how it would happen or could it happen - it was an issue we had to address but we got the chance to address it late Sunday (when Matthews told the club he would resign)."
Kelly said the club was unconcerned by the fact that Voss had not had any coaching experience at an AFL club.
"He has not coached at AFL level but everyone has to start somewhere and we are going to back him all the way," he said.
"I see a lot of the qualities of Leigh Matthews in Michael - a strong manager, whose leadership skills are well documented."
"Michael is coaching the Lions because we believe he will be a good coach," Kelly said.
"The fact he is a big name and the fact he understands the Queensland market and the club are little bonuses but we believe Michael's job is to be the coach."
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