Under-siege Carlton coach Brett Ratten is satisfied he retains the support of Stephen Kernahan, despite the Carlton president declining to guarantee he would coach out the 2012 AFL season.
The Blues and Ratten are under massive pressure heading into Friday night’s match with ladder leaders Collingwood, having dropped six of their past seven games to slump to 10th spot on the ladder.
Ratten is contracted until the end of next season.
But Kernahan – a long-time friend and former premiership teammate of Ratten – only gave him qualified backing last night.
“I hope he is (still the head coach at the end of the year),” Kernahan told Radio 3AW.
“Well, at this stage, he will be the coach until the end of the year, for sure, yes.”
Ratten said Kernahan was entitled to his view, but he still believed he had the president’s support.
“When I speak to him, yes,” Ratten told reporters on Wednesday.
“It hasn’t changed from the start of the year.
“Unless something is said and I’ve missed it, we’ve had conversations and that hasn’t been brought up.
“I feel the backing of Stephen and we’ll just push on and play the game.”
Despite their recent run of poor form, Ratten said he was looking forward to seeing how everyone at Carlton reacted to the massive challenge of facing Collingwood, who are unbeaten in 10 matches since being drubbed by the Blues back in round three.
“The best form of leadership is not when you’re going well, it’s when you’re not going well,” said Ratten.
“People can point the bone at me and that’s fine, that’s fair enough – I’m the person that holds the responsibility of our football club and our team.
“This puts me in a spot where I’m challenged.
“You have those moments where you go ‘am I up for the fight?’
“Well, yes I am, so I’m really looking forward to it.
“This is the time for coaches, teams, players when you really test yourself.”