“No concern” with Longmire comments as Devils rule out Scott

Alastair Lynch says he’s not too concerned about comments made by John Longmire regarding the Tasmania coaching job.

On Fox Footy’s AFL 360 earlier this week, Longmire told Gerard Whateley that he’s “not sure” when asked if he would be the inaugural coach of the Devils.

Longmire also said: “What I’m determined to do is be the best I can be at whatever I do. I’ve been trying to do that since I’ve stopped coaching at the Swans, I’m trying to do that to the best of my ability now and what happens in the future, I’ll try and do the best I can at whatever that is. Whether that ends up being at an AFL club or not coaching players, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Lynch, the fledgling franchise’s football director, knows very well that Longmire - a strong candidate for the role - would be taking a different stance publicly compared to what might be said behind closed doors.

But that’s not to say the Devils have decided on who will fill the important role with the likes of Nathan Buckley and Ken Hinkley also firmly in the mix.

“It’s not concerning at all,” Lynch said on SEN Tassie Breakfast.

“I suppose in the public space candidates are playing it a little bit different.

“As ‘Horse’ touched on, he’s trying to be the best he can be at whatever he does. In all discussions I’ve had in recent times with John, that’s absolutely something you walk away with.

“He’s determined to improve himself at whatever he does, and he wants to make an impact.

“We’re having encouraging discussions with a number of candidates, but no concern there at all.”

Lynch is part of the panel engaged to make recommendations to the board on who should be hired as the first Tassie coach.

He says the timeline initially laid out by CEO Brendon Gale remains the same.

“The panel that’s been selected is to make a recommendation to the board who will make the ultimate decision,” he added.

“We need to go through those stages.

“Everything Brendon and we’ve said from the very start is we want to have a coach announced by the end of the season.

“But once you make a decision you are best to announce it pretty much straight away because in this industry you’re going to hear who it is pretty quickly.

“Still the plan and the only timeframe we’ve discussed internally is we’d like to make an appointment and an announcement by the end of the footy season.”

Lynch admits he isn’t fully sure who he wants to coach the Devils: “No, not clearly I don’t think.

“We’ve got a number of very good, high-quality candidates that could all do the job.”

Away from the coaching job, a recent report emerged regarding a meeting with Brad Scott and the possibility of him taking the football boss role.

But Lynch does not believe the timing is right for his Brisbane Lions premiership teammate.

“I don’t think so,” Lynch said when asked if the former Essendon coach would be landing such a gig.

“I know that discussions have gone on.

“If we could get Brad, and if Brad was keen to do it, he’d be one of those people that would be very well suited. He’s got an enormous amount of experience with the AFL and at clubland.

“He has a really good understanding of the build in Tasmania. Before he took the Essendon job he was heavily involved in developing the list rules for our men’s program build. His understanding of that would be a great resource.

“I don’t think he’s going to be the one but certainly a discussion that was reported, and Brendon caught up with him a few weeks.

“We’ve got ongoing discussions with a number of very good candidates again. But I don’t think the timing would be right for Brad Scott.”