Alastair Clarkson has officially ended speculation about his AFL future by re-signing with Hawthorn.
Club chief executive Stuart Fox confirmed before Friday night’s match against Adelaide that the four-time premiership-winning coach had put pen to paper.
The deal commits Clarkson to the Hawks until 2019.
He has coached Hawthorn since 2005 for 263 games and is closing in on the club record of Hawks legend John Kennedy, who was in charge for 299.
“It is done – confirmed, absolutely,” Fox told 3AW.
“There was never a problem … Clarko was always staying at the club.”
Clarkson revealed in February he had committed verbally to the new deal.
But the fact that he had not signed led to media speculation this week that other clubs might be circling.
Clarkson scoffed at the speculation on Thursday, saying he would not back away from a commitment.
“It’s well deserved – it’s a real credit to him,” Fox said.
“I never felt Clarko was going anywhere else.”