BUCKS STILL IN THE DARK

COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire says the club’s board has still not decided whether Nathan Buckley will coach the Magpies next year.

McGuire spoke to reporters after a board meeting last night where football boss Geoff Walsh tabled his preliminary report after his review of the football department.

McGuire and his board members need time to digest the report’s findings, which will mean Buckley will coach the side against Melbourne on Saturday not knowing if he will keep his job.

“We haven’t come to a position yet,” McGuire replied when asked about Buckley’s tenure. “Seriously, there is nothing tricky about this. We’ve had a board meeting, Geoff Walsh tabled his preliminary document that has given us some thoughts to go away with. We’ll consider it now then come back and make our decisions.”

Buckley is about to come off contract and his future has been one of this season’s major stories. He has been at the helm for six years and this is the fourth season in a row the Pies have missed the finals.

Collingwood is 13th with eight wins and ends its season against the Demons on Saturday at the MCG. Buckley has handled himself with aplomb despite the ongoing scrutiny and uncertainty.

The report from Walsh is one of three internal reviews at the underperforming club and McGuire defended the amount of time it has taken for the review to be completed.

“It’s not just one decision, it’s trying to come up with a template for what the future of the Collingwood Football Club is,” he said. “So everything is at stake at our football club. It’s a very serious document, that’s why we have taken a long time and a lot of consideration to get to this point.

“There’s been no stone left unturned. Now we’ll go and digest that and make a considered decision.”