Fremantle coach Ross Lyon won’t get sacked on Friday, but it could be just a matter of time before he gets the boot.
Lyon’s future has been up in the air after he was named as the Fremantle official at the centre of the sexual harassment storm engulfing the club.
Pressure on him intensified on Thursday when it was revealed the club has referred a second complaint to the AFL’s integrity unit.
Reports have named Lyon as the official at the centre of that complaint as well.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the league won’t be investigating that incident because the man has since withdrawn his complaint.
Fremantle have called several emergency board meetings over the past week, with rumours rife that Lyon’s job is in jeopardy.
It has even been reported that former assistant Peter Sumich is being lined up to take over from Lyon.
But Fremantle great and current board member Peter Bell said Lyon’s short-term future was secure.
When asked whether Lyon’s job was in jeopardy in the short term, Bell told the ABC: “No it’s not is the short answer I can give you on that question.”
Bell’s assurance means Lyon is likely to lead Fremantle into Saturday night’s clash with St Kilda at Optus Stadium.
But whether he is retained beyond that remains to be seen.
Fremantle were dealt another blow on Thursday when it was revealed club champion Brad Hill is being investigated by police for not following a police move-on notice and for giving a false name during a night out last Sunday.
Hill’s consumption of alcohol on the night also broke the team’s policy for injured players.