Geelong is on the verge of signing coach Chris Scott to a contract extension.
Cats’ CEO Brian Cook confirmed to SEN’s The Run Home that Scott, who is out of contract at season’s end, would be presented with a contract this week and the signing of it was a formality.
“The coach is still to receive the actual contract but he will in the next four or five days,” Cook said.
“We are both committed to each other and we’ve agreed in principle.”
The rumour mill has been hot over summer with suggestion Scott’s relationship with players was strained. It was suggested the Cats’ coach did not attend player exit interviews post the side’s inglorious preliminary final exit.
Cook said he had not spoken to Scott about his coaching style and defended any criticism leveled at the 2011 premiership coach.
“I don’t think that sort of criticism is warranted,” he said.
“I think the job is difficult for all senior coaches and some master it better than others in the relationship stakes but I can ensure you that Chris Scott does have very good relationships with his people.
“In normal management you have four of five people that answer to you, but in football clubs what tends to happen is every football player and every assistant coach believes that they should have a direct report and performance reviewed weekly by the senior coach…that’s 57 people and that’s impossible.
“What the senior coach has to do is ensure he has 10 or 12 direct reports and has a good relationship with every other player in the group.
“I think (Luke) Beveridge does it well.
“There wouldn’t be a coach in the AFL that doesn’t have a relationship problem with someone or some people at some stage of their careers.”
Geelong opens its season on Sunday against Fremantle at Domain Stadium. Since winning the flag in 2011 the Cats have won just two of eight finals despite three top four finishes.