Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Carlton have confirmed the appointment of Josh Fraser as the club’s senior coach, saying he was the standout candidate regardless of his results as the interim boss.
Fraser became the unbackable favourite to take the role after he officially joined the race last week.
The Blues, who had a 1-8 win-loss record when Fraser replaced Michael Voss, sealed an improbable wildcard berth on Sunday when they drew with the Western Bulldogs.
Fraser is the Blues’ third interim coach to take the senior role in the past 19 years, following in the footsteps of Brett Ratten and David Teague.
“It was important for our football club, and for Josh himself, that he participated in the coaching selection process in its entirety,” Blues chairman Rob Priestley wrote in a letter to members.
“Through this detailed process Josh emerged as the standout candidate, even if you removed the sustained on-field transformation he has produced since taking the reins as interim senior coach.”
Fraser, 44, will appear at a media conference on Tuesday afternoon.
“Over the last 14 years Josh has developed and demonstrated a proven football IQ and an innovative mindset,” Priestley said. “In addition to his coaching credentials, the qualities that made Josh a compelling candidate are the same qualities that will continue to shape our football club moving forward – he is calm, humble, innovative and has an incredible club-first approach.”
When first appointed as the Blues’ interim coach, Fraser confessed that he was unsure if he was ready to take a permanent role as a senior coach at AFL level. But in a statement released by the club on Tuesday morning, he said those reservations had been quashed.
“I have always had ambitions to be a senior coach and what the last three months have done is give me the absolute belief that I am ready, and most importantly ready for this exact opportunity, to be senior coach of the Carlton Football Club,” he said.
“When I was told by Rob, [CEO] Graham [Wright] and [football manager] Chris [Davies] that I had been appointed as senior coach, that sense of appreciation and responsibility I felt in that moment will never be lost on me.”
Wright said Fraser was the best candidate of all those the Blues considered for the job after parting ways with Michael Voss in May.
“Even if you removed the last 14 weeks, on his presentation alone Josh would have been the successful candidate,” Wright said.
“Having run all candidates through a thorough and detailed process, for Josh to have emerged as the standout candidate speaks volumes of not only his credentials as a coach, but also the qualities he brings as a leader.
“He is a respectful whole-of-club leader who fosters a professional and united environment, with everyone contributing to our collective pursuit of excellence.”
More to come
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