http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/voss-key-to-coach-race/2007/07/27/1185339260315.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap2
Carlton & Essendon* competing for Voss
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Yet just like their navy blue rivals, the true decision-makers at Essendon* - while briefly pausing to honour their enduring 27-year symbol - will all the while be looking forward.
It now seems beyond dispute that the object of their attention is Michael Voss, the recently retired Brisbane premiership captain who thwarted Sheedy's prospects of a fifth coaching premiership.
Voss flew into Melbourne yesterday and held talks with Carlton trio Stephen Kernahan, Greg Swann and Stephen Icke.
The previous day he was contacted by Essen don and is understood to have held informal talks via the telephone with that club's chief executive, Peter Jackson.
There is no doubt that Pagan's sacking hastened Sheedy's departure at Essendon*. It is true that the coach's future had not been on the agenda in the lead- up to Monday night's board meeting but once Carlton sacked Pagan on Monday morning it became - for both clubs - all about Michael Voss.
Differing processes at Carlton and Essendon*
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Pratt has entrusted his chief executive Swann, football directors Kernahan and Adrian Gleeson and football operations boss Stephen Icke to chose Carlton's new coach, while the process put in place by the Bombers is not dissimilar to the one adopted by St Kilda last September after it sacked Grant Thomas.
Voss preferred by Carlton, but no link to Frawley
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There has been much disinformation spread in recent days, however, regarding the Blues. While it is true that Voss is their preferred candidate, the suggestion that he has approached Danny Frawley to join him at the club is nonsensical and was denied yesterday by both parties.
Ratten's chances
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At Carlton, the wildcard remains Brett Ratten. Club president Dick Pratt believes that four wins from the next six games would be enough for Ratten to get the job, and you would imagine that message has been communicated to the players, who will know what they have to do to deliver the job to the former captain.
Laidley not in the frame
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His new manager, Ricky Nixon, continues to say Laidley has been approached by other clubs but the Kangaroos do not believe Carlton or Essendon* would go for him and appear determined, though, to wait until the end of the season before re-committing to Laidley.
Pagan
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While the Blues had previously been less than troubled by the prospect of losing every game between now and round 22, and the prized priority pick in the national draft that that would have delivered, they could not tolerate the thumpings the players were suffering under Pagan.
Not that Pagan was entirely to blame. The performances of the club's senior playing group have been dreadful, the Blues are a club bereft of on-field leadership, and perhaps after almost five years Pagan must take some responsibility for that.
Still, he was working for most of his time at the club with a substandard administration, an under-resourced football department and the legacy of the John Elliott administration's salary cap cheating.
The manner in which he was treated last year was a shameful chapter in the club's history, and Pagan's performance after he was sacked on Monday was gracious in the extreme.
Even so, he must be smarting at the damage his move to Carlton has done to his reputation. Former players who conspired to sack him last season have repeatedly described Pagan's modus operandi as selfish and his coaching methods outdated and harsh. They say he was too tough on the club's younger players — an accusation vehemently contested by Pagan supporters. He may yet get another chance at Melbourne or Fremantle.
Mitchell
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It is also untrue to suggest that Barry Mitchell will be retained by the club. The assistant coach's decision to remain this season hurt Carlton and Mitchell's own reputation and it would be staggering now if his legacy was retained.
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