The Adelaide Football Club has today finalised an agreement with Senior Coach Neil Craig, to move away from a traditional contract and onto staff.
By agreeing to a standard (Club) Letter of Appointment, Neil moves onto staff with a set of terms and conditions which include an agreed period of notice (by either party).
Neil Craig has been Senior Coach of the Club, firstly as a caretaker in the latter half of 2004, and then via contract appointment, since 2005. This season (2011) is the last of a three year contract.
The Board of Directors have moved Neil onto staff for the following key reasons:
1. It has a continuing confidence that Neil can lead the Club to a Premiership
2. It has a longer term outlook, and how we might use him in life after coaching
In announcing this, the Board certainly expects Neil to coach the Club beyond 2011. In the letter of appointment there is no defined period of tenure. There is simply a period of notice that can be triggered by either party - at any time, affording the Club unprecedented flexibility and risk management.
The motivation to move him onto staff also arises from the fact that Neil has so much to offer the Club beyond his time as Senior Coach, whenever that may be. As a sport scientist, and with Commonwealth/Olympic experience in conditioning - and now with tremendous expertise in all facets of our own game - he is a world class resource.
There are no guarantees for/by either party beyond senior coaching in this regard. And there is no specific job description in place just yet. There is simply a shared objective at this point in time to continue when coaching finishes. Most likely however (for now), that will be in the area of ‘High Performance’.
In confirming the change to his agreement, Neil Craig says: “I’m happy to go down this path. In fact, I’d have been happy to operate on a handshake. It doesn’t matter to me.
“What’s vitally important though is that management and the Board are happy and supportive of the job we’re doing and the direction we’re taking together. The minute they’re not, I’ll be moving onto something else. And it won’t be a painful experience for either of us!
“Importantly, I’m still really enjoying the role. In fact I’ve never enjoyed it more. And I’m very enthusiastic and confident about where we’re going with this playing group.”
Neil Craig has coached the Club in 150 games since 2004, winning 88 and losing 62 - for a 59% win/loss ratio. The Club has played in five finals series in his six full seasons.
Steven Trigg
Chief Executive Officer
