Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Danny Daly has been given “elevated” responsibilities in his role as Lions football boss after withdrawing from the race to replace the departed Chris Fagan as Brisbane coach.
Fagan last week announced that after 10 seasons at the helm and a hat-trick of premierships, he was standing down as Lions coach despite having a year to run on his contract.
Daly, the club’s football manager, was considered a strong favourite, along with assistant coach Cam Bruce, to take over from Fagan.
However, Lions chief executive Sam Graham announced on Wednesday that Daly had “decided not to pursue the senior coach role”.
“I am also pleased to confirm Danny Daly has accepted an elevated role as general manager football to lead our football program, recognising both his first-class leadership and his role overseeing our high performing football environment,” Graham said.
Daly will also be part of the selection panel to decide Brisbane’s new coach.
The panel will also include Graham, club chairman Andrew Wellington and former Australian basketball coach and club coaching mentor Phil Smyth.
Lions board member and the other man to have led the Lions to three successive premierships, Leigh Matthews, will serve the panel in an advisory capacity.
The panel will also be “supported” by Brisbane triple-premiership player Simon Black and sports psychologist Matti Clements, who were also involved Fagan’s appointment.
“The appointment of our next senior coach is an important decision for the club’s future, and I am pleased we have assembled an experienced and highly skilled panel to lead a thorough and considered process,” Graham said.
“I am also pleased to confirm Danny Daly has accepted an elevated role as general manager football to lead our football program, recognising both his first-class leadership and his role overseeing our high performing football environment.
“Danny will play a key role in selecting and supporting the new coach as the club enters the next phase.
“We will now work through this process methodically and take the time required to identify the best person to coach our AFL team into its next chapter of sustained success.”
The panel will make a recommendation to the board, with candidates to “be assessed against clearly defined criteria”.
Former Collingwood coach and current Geelong assistant Nathan Buckley has also been linked to the role.
