Crows' coach Craig uncertain of future - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Crows' coach Craig uncertain of future

By Sam Lienert 23/07/2011 06:39:43 PM Comments (0)

Adelaide coach Neil Craig admits he is uncertain whether he will have either the backing or the desire to stay in the job beyond this AFL season.

But Craig does not believe the Crows will rush a decision on his future in response to Friday night's horror 103-point loss to St Kilda.

The 19.13 (127) to 3.6 (24) defeat at Etihad Stadium was Adelaide's biggest loss in seven years and they kicked their lowest score ever.

The Crows' eighth loss in nine games has prompted calls for change, with Adelaide dual premiership ruckman Shaun Rehn saying the pressure from poor performances and a growing supporter backlash had reached a level where something had to give.

"I believe it is at the stage now where it has become almost untenable, that the pressures within the football club are almost too high for something not to happen," Rehn told Melbourne's SEN radio on Saturday.

"I think deep down (the Crows board) would definitely like to see Neil finish out the year. Whether that is the case in a week or two, I don't know."

Immediately after the loss, Craig said neither he nor the board should make a hasty decision.

"I think personally you've got to be really careful on using one game, the emotion of one game, because you can make really poor decisions either way," Craig said.

"I'm not just saying that (because I want) to continue or not to continue.

"Our club's professional enough to understand that, that it's a bigger picture than one game.

"Now at some stage there can be a tipping point either way, so I understand that."

Asked if Friday night's game might be that tipping point, Craig said: "I don't know".

"Let's let the emotion just drop away for a sec before we go down that path."

Speaking on Melbourne radio station 3AW on Saturday, he said he was uncertain whether he was the man to coach the club next season.

"I don't know that. I think the next six weeks are really important, and if I did (know), I'd tell you. That's my absolute honest answer," Craig said.

"It's a two-way thing. It's important, for me to continue, that I want to do it, absolutely, and I have to make that decision.

"I will certainly use the next six weeks to be really firm and clear on that decision, as the club will use the next six weeks to do that as well."

He was confident he retained the support of the players, but admitted coaches could not always gauge that themselves.

"Sometimes as a coach, you can be a bit blind with that. So it's important to have other people around you and also networks outside the football club where you can try and get a feel for that."

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