TonyK
CibbuanoWilliams signs with Port for two years
July 22nd 2009 01:52
PORT ADELAIDE coach Mark Williams has ended speculation about his future by signing a two-year deal which will see him remain at the Power until at least the end of the 2011 season.
The club offered Williams the extension late last month but as the weeks passed and the contract remained unsigned rumours began to surface about his ambition to coach in Melbourne.
Williams said it was terrific to have the agreement finalised.
"Firstly, thanks to Ricky Nixon (manager), Mark Haysman (Power CEO) and the board for getting the agreement done in the timeframe we all set at the outset," Williams said.
"We said it would be 2-3 weeks, and that's been spot on."
"Secondly, I'm really excited about our list and where we're at, and look forward to working with Mark, Peter Rohde (operations manager) and all the coaching staff to develop the squad. We are looking forward to a new era and are setting up the club with a long-term focus."
Williams also dismissed suggestions he was unhappy with the contract.
"As is well known, I have been very willing to take a cut in pay for the long-term good of the club given our financial situation," he said.
"There's also been speculation about various other parts of the contract. After actually walking through the clauses in the contract over the last couple of weeks it became obvious to me that they would be of great benefit for both the club and for me. So there is no disagreement there at all – quite the opposite."
Port chief executive Mark Haysman said securing the services of the premiership coach for a further two years was great news for the club and that speculation over various clauses in Williams' contract had been wide of the mark.
"Mark is a premiership coach with a tremendous record of developing a young playing list to be a serious and consistent top-four contender, which is what we are setting about doing here," Haysman said.
"Mark has put the club first in accepting a substantial pay cut – and both parties have been open about that – but some of the speculation regarding what else may or may not be in Mark's contract has been wide of the mark."
"We believe the content of contracts should remain confidential, but our simple aim has been to provide a framework that enables Mark Williams to flourish and our team and club to improve, which we need to do to be a consistent top-four competitor."
The club offered Williams the extension late last month but as the weeks passed and the contract remained unsigned rumours began to surface about his ambition to coach in Melbourne.
Williams said it was terrific to have the agreement finalised.
"Firstly, thanks to Ricky Nixon (manager), Mark Haysman (Power CEO) and the board for getting the agreement done in the timeframe we all set at the outset," Williams said.
"We said it would be 2-3 weeks, and that's been spot on."
"Secondly, I'm really excited about our list and where we're at, and look forward to working with Mark, Peter Rohde (operations manager) and all the coaching staff to develop the squad. We are looking forward to a new era and are setting up the club with a long-term focus."
Williams also dismissed suggestions he was unhappy with the contract.
"As is well known, I have been very willing to take a cut in pay for the long-term good of the club given our financial situation," he said.
"There's also been speculation about various other parts of the contract. After actually walking through the clauses in the contract over the last couple of weeks it became obvious to me that they would be of great benefit for both the club and for me. So there is no disagreement there at all – quite the opposite."
Port chief executive Mark Haysman said securing the services of the premiership coach for a further two years was great news for the club and that speculation over various clauses in Williams' contract had been wide of the mark.
"Mark has put the club first in accepting a substantial pay cut – and both parties have been open about that – but some of the speculation regarding what else may or may not be in Mark's contract has been wide of the mark."
"We believe the content of contracts should remain confidential, but our simple aim has been to provide a framework that enables Mark Williams to flourish and our team and club to improve, which we need to do to be a consistent top-four competitor."
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