FORMER Melbourne coach Mark Neeld says he never once questioned his relationship with the players during his tenure.

He also defended the approach he took towards the players when he took over in 2011 and the decisions made in relation to the list at the end of 2012.

"We always knew it was going to be a long-term proposition ... I've been involved and tasted success at the highest – albeit as an assistant – and there is a certain culture and a certain drive that is needed by the players and the whole group to achieve that," Neeld told Nine Network's Footy Classified.

"Some harsh decisions – or in some people's eyes, harsh decisions – needed to be made and they were made."

Upon announcing Neeld's sacking, club CEO Peter Jackson said one of his responsibilities was to ensure Melbourne was a positive place for players to develop their careers.

But Neeld said there were good reasons why senior players Jared Rivers and Brent Moloney left the Demons at the end of 2012.

He said Melbourne decided not to match the offer Geelong made to free agent Rivers because they were privy to medical information that, in the club's opinion, made another long-term contract offer unwise. He also said Rivers wanted to go to a club that was likely to be successful more quickly.

He said that former best and fairest winner Moloney also used free agency to move on and try his luck elsewhere. He eventually ended up at the Brisbane Lions.

"All the decisions we were making were for the future," Neeld said.

"The majority of the players are certainly in the infancy of their AFL careers. You will see it over time - I don't know what time - but they will develop into a pretty handy side."

Neeld said he felt a mixture of disappointment and relief at losing his job.

Club champion and Footy Classified host Garry Lyon was part of the panel that decided to appoint Neeld in September 2011.

Lyon said he accepted responsibility for the decision and was as disappointed as anyone that it did not work out for Neeld and the club.

"Selecting coaches is the toughest job of all," he said. "I won't apologise for the decision ever. That is life. Unfortunately it didn't work."

Lyon has repeatedly defended the process since the decision was made.

"I'm really disappointed that it hasn't worked. I thought that Mark ticked all the boxes for an untried coach but there is the great unknown when you get on your own and you sit in the chair and sadly for Mark and for the footy club, because the ramifications are dramatic, it hasn't worked," he said.

Star Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury also tweeted his opinion on Neeld, who worked with him at the Magpies as an assistant coach.