Mick Malthouse sacked by Carlton

Carlton have officially announced the sacking of senior coach Mick Malthouse at a press conference today.

Malthouse was informed of the club’s decision in a meeting earlier today with club officials including Mark LoGiudice after being called out of a match committee meeting. Malthouse left the club and was not present at the press conference.

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LoGiudice read a prepared statement at the press conference.

“The Carlton Football Club Board has today advised Mick Malthouse that his contract as senior coach has been terminated effective immediately.

“As I communicated to Mick and our members yesterday, the decision on our senior coaching role was to be reviewed, considered and delivered in the week of the bye. However, unfortunately Mick’s obvious public misalignment with the football club has resulted in a loss of trust between the Club and coach.

“The Board today considered the situation had deteriorated to such an extent that not making a change now would only exacerbate our current position.”

This ends a 54-game career at Carlton that earlier this season saw Malthouse break the record for most VFL/AFL games coached, surpassing Jock McHale’s record of 714 games by just 4 matches before being axed.

Former Fitzroy, Brisbane and Hawthorn footballer and current Carlton assistant John Barker has been confirmed as Malthouse’s succesor as interim senior coach.

“John Barker will serve as our interim senior coach. I am confident that his strong leadership and respectful relationship with the playing group will ensure he steps into this role seamlessly. He will be aided by the experience of Rob Wiley and Dean Laidley, who will continue to fulfill their current roles, along with our other assistant coaches.

“John will nurture our younger talent and give them a chance to shine, while balancing their skills with the experience of our more senior players.”

The decision was made after Malthouse gave an inflammatory interview on SEN this morning, in which he told to the club to either reappoint him as a long-term coach, or give him the sack.

The Blues announced earlier this week that they would review and make a decision on Malthouse’s position at the club during the Round 11 bye, but Malthouse said the wait was unnecessary.

“There’s not a lot to gain from two weeks, is there?

“I don’t really get [it]… if you don’t know about the person now, what does two weeks show?”

Malthouse lashed out at the Carlton board, saying the senior coach’s head was often the first to roll when football clubs fall on hard times.

“Good boards stay sound. Boards crack under pressure, and the first thing that goes is the coach because it relieves a bit of the pressure,” the veteran coach said.

“They beat their chest because they’ve made a decision, and they move on.

“Very few of them ever work.”