North Melbourne has sensationally sacked Alastair Clarkson — one year before the senior coach’s contract was due to expire.
Kangaroos players on Wednesday morning were asked to join an unscheduled meeting at the club’s Arden St headquarters, where Clarkson’s future was the main subject.
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Channel 7 journalist Tom Morris reported Kangaroos president Sonja Hood and football boss Todd Viney spoke to the players, adding on X: “Confirmation Clarkson was sacked, rather than a resignation or parting of ways.”
Senior reporter Sam Edmund told SEN on Wednesday afternoon: “This is a sacking, not a mutual agreement. It’s not a resignation.”
AFL Media reporter Cal Twomey wrote on X players were told the club doesn’t have a “preferred candidate in mind”, adding the club would be “hitting the market”.
The Kangaroos just after midday confirmed the Roos had “decided to part ways” with Clarkson, who’d been informed about the club’s call on Tuesday following “a consultation period with football department staff and players”.
CODE Sports reported Clarkson was “not happy with the decision”.
Hood and Viney are scheduled to front reporters at 2pm (AEST) on Wednesday.
“We asked Alastair to give our club stability and strength and help return us to the top of the AFL ladder,” Hood said.
“Four years later, we have created an environment where our staff and players want to be at our club. This is a testament to the culture Alastair has helped create and the belief that he has built in this group.
“Although we have clearly made progress and won more games, we won’t shy away from our desire to want more from this talented group.
“We are incredibly grateful to Alastair for the work he’s done over the last four years and we wish him all the very best for his next chapter.”
A statement from Clarkson was released on Wednesday afternoon via his manager, James Henderson, on X.
“My time as coach of the North Melbourne Football Club has come to an end,” Clarkson’s statement read.
