Ross Lyon pulls out of running for Carlton coaching job

Ross Lyon will not coach Carlton. The former Fremantle and St Kilda coach contacted Blues chairman Luke Sayers early on Thursday to officially withdraw after the club appeared to significantly change the selection process.

Lyon was hot favourite to replace the recently sacked David Teague after Alastair Clarkson announced late last month that he would not coach in 2022. Sayers engaged in a lengthy exchange with Lyon last week and had told associates that Lyon was his strong preference to revive Carlton’s struggling football fortunes.

Ross Lyon.Credit:Getty Images

However, it emerged on Wednesday that the Blues football boss Brad Lloyd had sounded out Brad Scott’s interest in applying for the role and the prospect of Clarkson changing his mind had also been reported to the Carlton board.

Lyon, who was approached by Carlton to replace Teague, indicated on Nine’s Footy Classified on Wednesday that he had spoken to Sayers earlier in the day in a bid to learn the latest state of play at the club. Lyon indicated he was unlikely to put himself through a process which the new club president had suggested could take up to 45 days.

The Blues also on Wednesday revealed Blues two-time premiership coach David Parkin would join a coaching sub-committee along with new football director Greg Williams and fellow board members Patty Kinnersly and Tim Lincoln as well as Lloyd and CEO Cain Liddle.

Sayers has been unable to guarantee the futures of Lloyd or Liddle and recently approached outgoing Geelong chief Brian Cook to consider the Blues’ top job.

Lyon has worked in the media and as a property consultant since departing Fremantle at the end of 2019, a club he led to its first grand final after five years at St Kilda during which the Saints reached grand finals in successive seasons and missed finals only once.

More to come

Caroline Wilson is a Walkley award-winning columnist and former chief football writer for The Age.Connect via email.

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