Garry Lyon says he doesn’t have “any respect” for club officials who leak sensitive information amid further reports about Hawthorn's coaching succession plan.
Caroline Wilson reported on Footy Classified that Sam Mitchell and Alastair Clarkson were part of a mediation session just weeks after the club announced Mitchell would take over as senior coach from 2023.
Lyon said while he was unaware how the story was leaked, he slammed the “insecure people” inside clubs that were looking to brief the media.
Lyon also added that he was confident that Clarkson would see out the final year of his contract in 2022, amid speculation that he could seek an early exit.
“I don’t have any respect for organisations that want to background journalists for whatever their motivation is,” Lyon said on SEN Breakfast.
“If it’s happening, that’s sad and I don’t know if it’s true. Boards have been leaking forever and a day, I’ve watched it and seen it first-hand and it’s insecure people who want to make themselves feel big by going to a journalist and letting them know what’s going on.
“I look at it from the coaching side and (Clarkson) said it consistently that he will see out his contract.
“I take 'Clarko' and listen to him, as opposed to any of the other stuff that is going around.”
Hawthorn is coming off an unlikely draw against Melbourne last Saturday night and are currently scheduled to face Adelaide in Round 19.