Clarkson out of running for shock switch to Gold Coast

ALASTAIR Clarkson’s management last night shot down any prospect of the four-time premiership coach defecting to the Gold Coast – or any other team.

Clarkson, 49, had been touted as the dream target for the AFL expansion club.

But Clarkson’s agent, James Henderson, said his client was going nowhere.

“He is staying at Hawthorn – absolutely, emphatically,” Henderson said.

“He is contracted until the end of 2019 and has consistently said it all year.

“It is exactly what it is. There is nothing else in play.”

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott was yesterday backed in to $1.60 (from $4) to win the Gold Coast job.

Carlton stoppages coach John Barker – the $2.75 bookies favourite on Monday – was wound out to $7.

A Kangaroos spokesman last night said the club “would not buy into speculation” about Scott, who is contracted until the end of next season.

Rodney Eade was sacked as Suns coach last week after three years at Carrara, while Collingwood is also set to make a call on embattled senior coach Nathan Buckley.

Pies president Eddie McGuire declared this week that he was the only person with any “visibility” on the Buckley decision.

“I’ll tell you what’s happening – what we’ve said for the last four months and that is that we’re doing a full review of the club and, in due course, we’ll make a decision regarding that,” McGuire said.

A Suns coaching selection panel will be fronted by Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans. Clarkson’s strong connection to Evans, who was football boss at Hawthorn during the club’s 2008 premiership season, had given rise to talk of a Gold Coast coaching coup.