TonyK
CibbuanoSaints want Lyon for 10 years
May 28th 2008 01:24
ST KILDA chairman Greg Westaway has thrown his support behind embattled coach Ross Lyon, saying he wants the former Sydney assistant to coach the club for the next ten years.
Westaway yesterday said stability was the key to success, citing Geelong's decision to stick with coach Mark Thompson after a disappointing 2006 season.
"We'd like to see him there for 10 years because that's how you run clubs," Westaway said.
"We are 100 per cent behind him. If you change (coaches) every five minutes, you go nowhere. And I'm very adamant about it: he's there to stay."
Westaway, in his role as chairman, recently asked Geelong chairman Frank Costa what was the plank behind last year's premiership success.
"He said they were ready to burn Bomber Thompson 18 months ago, and he said, 'Look at us now, we're the greatest team of all'," Westaway said.
"It's about continuity, and we've got a plan for Ross to be there for a long time."
Under Lyon, whose contract expires at the end of 2009, the Saints have played 31 matches for 15 wins and 16 losses, and currently sit in 10th position with four wins.
Sunday's performance against the Brisbane Lions, where the team lost by 46 points and at one stage trailed by 75 points, was one of the worst efforts.
Westaway said he was confident that Lyon could re-build the club and turn the Saints into a legitmate premiership contender.
"I'm not sure anything drastic has gone wrong," Westaway said.
"Ross is, if you like, rebuilding, and I've got confidence in his game plan and approach.
"When I say rebuilding, the clubs has had sub-optimal personnel for years. They haven't had the right personnel or levels of personnel they should have had. There's been too few trying to do too much.
"We've got new coaching staff, fitness people that really have got the right approach to it.
"But building in and around all that takes a bit of time."
Meanwhile, AFL medicos late yesterday signed off an the Saints' application to put Fraser Gehrig on the long-term injury list, where he must remain for a minimum of eight weeks.
The Saints can now promote a rookie in his place if they wish.
Westaway yesterday said stability was the key to success, citing Geelong's decision to stick with coach Mark Thompson after a disappointing 2006 season.
"We'd like to see him there for 10 years because that's how you run clubs," Westaway said.
"We are 100 per cent behind him. If you change (coaches) every five minutes, you go nowhere. And I'm very adamant about it: he's there to stay."
Westaway, in his role as chairman, recently asked Geelong chairman Frank Costa what was the plank behind last year's premiership success.
"He said they were ready to burn Bomber Thompson 18 months ago, and he said, 'Look at us now, we're the greatest team of all'," Westaway said.
"It's about continuity, and we've got a plan for Ross to be there for a long time."
Under Lyon, whose contract expires at the end of 2009, the Saints have played 31 matches for 15 wins and 16 losses, and currently sit in 10th position with four wins.
Sunday's performance against the Brisbane Lions, where the team lost by 46 points and at one stage trailed by 75 points, was one of the worst efforts.
Westaway said he was confident that Lyon could re-build the club and turn the Saints into a legitmate premiership contender.
"I'm not sure anything drastic has gone wrong," Westaway said.
"Ross is, if you like, rebuilding, and I've got confidence in his game plan and approach.
"When I say rebuilding, the clubs has had sub-optimal personnel for years. They haven't had the right personnel or levels of personnel they should have had. There's been too few trying to do too much.
"We've got new coaching staff, fitness people that really have got the right approach to it.
"But building in and around all that takes a bit of time."
Meanwhile, AFL medicos late yesterday signed off an the Saints' application to put Fraser Gehrig on the long-term injury list, where he must remain for a minimum of eight weeks.
The Saints can now promote a rookie in his place if they wish.
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