Melbourne chief Ian Jackson contacted Paul Roos twice in the search for a new senior coach. Picture: Michael Klein
MELBOURNE has moved on from Paul Roos and contacted the managers of Rodney Eade and Mark Williams about the vacant coaching job.
Melbourne chief executive Peter Jackson has contacted Roos twice about his interest in coaching the Demons.
The last time was Friday, when the pair exchanged text messages in response to media speculation Roos was warming to the role.
Roos maintained the answer was no "at the moment".
Jackson yesterday said the process of finding a replacement coach for Mark Neeld did not start and end with the Swans premiership coach.
He said the Demons had accepted Roos' answer "on face value" that he did not want to coach in 2014.
It means the position will probably be filled by Eade, Williams or stand-in coach Neil Craig.
Roos has refused to rule himself out completely, and if he changes his mind he will get the job.
"Contrary to popular opinion, we're still chasing Paul Roos and not pursuing a process, well, Paul's comment to me is exactly what he has said in the public, that he's not interested in coaching at the moment," Jackson said.
"We've got to take Paul Roos on face value that he doesn't want to coach Melbourne. And as a result we've started a process. We've appointed a selection panel."
"And as a result of the media comments, on the back of Tim Watson's comments (that the possibility of Roos reactivating his career was strengthening) and I'm not sure where they came from, I contacted the managements of other potential candidates to confirm to them we are undertaking a genuine process," Jackson said.
"So I contacted Rodney Eade's manager and Mark Williams' manager in particular because there has been suggestions we are not interested in talking to those two.
"Of course, we're interested in talking to those two. We're interested in talking to others as well."
The ballpark salary for Roos is $1 million a season.
The Demons, who play Brisbane Lions in Darwin this weekend, hope to arrange interviews with Eade and Williams as early as next week. Talks have already been held with Craig, detailing the expectations of the team under his temporary control.
Craig has yet to formally announce his intention to apply for the position.
Jackson said the club would not be rushed into making a decision.
"The process has just started. Most of the club is away in Darwin this weekend, so we'll start the formal process of talking to those people shortly after we get back," Jackson said.
Eade has indicated his desire to coach again, while Williams has yet to comment publicly. Jackson has also started the process of identifying candidates for the vacant football operations manager's position.
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