North Melbourne have confirmed Alastair Clarkson will start at the AFL club as planned on November 1.
Wednesday’s announcement came on the same day Brisbane coach Chris Fagan also returned to his duties at the Lions.
Clarkson and Fagan are key figures in an independent investigation ordered by the AFL that will look at historic racist allegations while they were at Hawthorn.
The claims centre on Clarkson’s time at Hawthorn, with his then-football manager Fagan and former welfare manager Jason Burt also named in an ABC report alleging racist behaviour at the Hawks between 2008-16.
Clarkson, Burt and Fagan, who took leave from his role as the Brisbane coach when the allegations became public last month, deny any wrongdoing.
Clarkson returned from overseas on Monday night and said he was looking forward to telling his side of the story in the saga.
The Kangaroos said in a statement on Wednesday their board had decided Clarkson, who coached Hawthorn to four premierships, should start as planned.
Like Fagan, he originally announced he would stand aside when the claims were made.
North president Sonja Hood is confident Clarkson can do his job while he cooperates with the investigation.
“We support the process to provide a voice for all parties. That includes former Hawthorn players and their families, as well as former coaches and staff, including Alastair,” Hood said.
“The board came to its decision after consulting with a range of stakeholders.”
Brisbane’s board approved Fagan’s return on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said the club had been in contact with the families involved to understand their issues.
“Their stories, anonymously told, were provided to the AFL integrity unit as we were required to do and as was recommended in the survey report,” Kennett wrote in a letter to Hawks members.
“That said we have already been working with the families concerned to better understand their concerns and assist them where possible and reasonable.”
The AFL released the investigation’s terms of reference last Thursday.
Senior lawyer Bernard Quinn KC was appointed on October 4 to lead the four-person panel.
Initial statements are due on November 4.
The investigation will include mediation if needed and the league is projecting it will end in December, with the resulting report to be made public.
“At least we’ve got a platform now from which we can get a chance to tell our side of the story,” Clarkson said when he returned to Melbourne.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
100% man.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
These govt agencies are there to help the govt, imo. Only the courts can give true justice, most of the time.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Work cover and the system in place is another beast in itself. The things they do and get away with with no accountability is mind blowing but I guess alot of that comes back to like I said before now I think about it and if everybody told the truth there wouldn’t be a problem but because of those that do the wrong thing it makes it dam hard for those that do the right thing, sometimes even harder.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Stink, stench, etc
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Oh man I can only imagine especially with the financial side of it as well. Would be an interesting read thats for sure. I got my get out of jail free card just after my 18th birthday but besides that only time my experience hasn’t been good is when it was my fault I was there in the first place and on those occasions, got what I deserved pretty much.lol. :laughing: P.S. nothing ever too serious just typical young stupid male stuff that you should know better.lol.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
thanks Adam, i cant tell you how stressful it was waiting for the judge to decide costa with three lawyers laughing in room while waiting, and myself informing Mrs we may be up a lot of money. Great that I had a sensible judge who justified myself taking matter back to legal system. As for Ombudsman and OAIC, I have a public journal article coming out about the folly of their discretionary powers. thankfully my experience in legal system has been good on two occasions representing myself. 2004 and 2019.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
100% man its far from perfect but were definitely better for it. Congrats as well these things can be such a drain on you and can lead you to question yourself sometimes. Its not always easy sticking it all the way through.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I don't know what oppobrium is
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Please try not to use it :silly:
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Good on you Clarko and Fages. The annual leave period is over and it’s time to get back to fulfilling your jobs as AFL coaches. Going back to work won’t change the outcome or findings of this inquiry.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I'm not clear on that either but I do think that any findings will be public which would force an outcome . Exactly what that means is a bit of speculation so I will be watching with some interest.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Not always. I was sacked. Then they started an inquiry 4 months later. Found not guilty 2 months after that. Not reinstated. I haven’t worked since because the opprobrium, around the nature of the allegations, stinks like a dead rotten pig. Prospective employers always ask why you left the last job. Do l lie about the truth or tell the truth about the lie … or say nothing. All three options are lies. So I’m intercoursed. The prospective employers I’ve been to basically say, ”Don’t contact us, we won’t contact you”. So, no, l definitely don’t have faith in the system. It stinks.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
That's exactly what the Education Department did to me. And the stupid part is l can get into trouble for writing this; the truth. But they've lifted no finger to compensate me.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I've added that one to my lexicon. Had no idea of its meaning. Good stuff. :thumbup:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Aren't they already at work on it? The problem is, those organisations are unlikely to make any findings within 2 seasons. Not good at what they do.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Regardless, there still needs to be a time limit.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
That’s impressive Birdie, but still no excuse for using germane. :laughing:
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Very droll, Don. Sports Integrity Australia, WorkSafe Vic or the Human Rights Commission would probably be more appropriate given the circumstances.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
Never qualified (avoiding HECS) but I did plenty of paralegal work before I retired a couple of years ago as the Director of Workplace Relations in the Dept of Justice down here. Interesting work but it takes its toll.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Who do you think these 'complainants' would like to run the 'process'? The Education Department? Urban Planning? Vehicle Registration?