Melbourne AFL coach Mark Neeld says he has been surprised to hear former club champion David Schwarz call for his sacking and has described Schwarz’s comments as unhelpful.
The Demons have a 1-9 record after the first 10 rounds. Neeld, who is contracted until the end of the 2014 season, was tipped to face the axe at a board meeting earlier this week but so far remains in the job.
Melbourne host eighth-placed Collingwood on the Queen’s Birthday Monday clash at the MCG in a marquee game for the club. However Schwarz says he hopes the Demons lose so the board will be forced to act on Neeld.
(“It’s) surprising that a legend of the footy club would come out and say that he hopes his club loses,” Neeld told a media conference on Friday.
“We all deal with things in different ways.”
Neeld said he hadn’t contacted Schwarz.
“It’s rare for coaches to contact people who work full-time in the media,” Neeld said.
“That sort of stuff is unhelpful given that the club he used to play for is going through some tough times.”
Neeld was stalked by a media pack on Monday but tried to laugh off the incident on Friday.
“I was just a bit stiff I got a red light,” Neeld said.
“How would you go if you had a red light and you had your car surrounded by 20 people taking photos and sticking a camera?”
Neeld said his presentation to the board was a summary of development plans.
“I’m really clear in my role and it’s to develop a group of mainly young footballers to be as good as they can,” he said.
“We know that sort of stuff takes time.”
He said his future wasn’t discussed while he was there.
Neeld said the media focus on the club’s board meeting would affect the players.
“It will have some impact because people are human,” he said.
But he said taking on premiership stars like Dane Swan, Darren Jolly and Travis Cloke was a wonderful opportunity for his side.
“For our footy club it doesn’t come any bigger at the moment than having a crack at Collingwood on a public holiday,” Neeld said.