FOOTY GM EXITS GOLD COAST
THE embattled Gold Coast Suns will restructure their floundering football department ahead of what shapes as a make-or-break year for the expansion club.
The Suns parted ways with head of football Jon Haines on Friday as the club’s revolving door of key personnel continues to spin.
Midfield coach Josh Francou also departed during another miserable season and Stuart Dew is now the senior coach under the most pressure to keep his job.
Chief executive Mark Evans will oversee a review of the football department structure. List manager Craig Cameron will steer the football department while the Suns search for a full-time replacement.
The football department shake-up looms as critical with prized youngsters Ben King, Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine all coming out of contract next year.
The trio were taken in the 2018 Super Draft in what looked like Gold Coast’s final roll of the dice to build a successful club.
But if King, Lukosius and Rankine walk out then there will be grave fears placed on the club’s future.
King is certain to receive mega offers from Victorian clubs including St Kilda, where twin brother Max plays, and Essendon.
South Australians Lukosius and Rankine will also field strong interest.
Port Adelaide list boss Jason Cripps declared before the 2018 draft that he would attempt to lure the locals home if they were drafted by the Suns. Evans credited Haines for “resetting” the football department after taking over from Marcus Ashcroft four years ago.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn master coach Alastair Clarkson is set to turn down Carlton’s desperate 11th-hour bid to coax him back to football.
While senior Blues figures are clinging to the belief the four-time premiership coach is gettable, the Clarkson camp is adamant he intends to travel to the US next year.
Clarkson declared after finishing his last game in charge of the Hawks that he would take 12 months away from the game. He wants to enroll in leading executive programs at a US college or university.