Cameron Ling all but ruled out of Demon coaching succession plan
PAUL Roos has all but confirmed that Cameron Ling is not being considered for the role as Melbourne's next senior coach.
Roos recently met with Ling to discuss his potential entry into the coaching ranks.
But it seems the three-time Geelong premiership player, who told 3AW on the weekend that he doesn't have "a super unbridled passion for coaching", is not in a position to be considered for the succession plan that Roos is hoping to engineer.
"It was really an informal discussion about where his thoughts were," Roos said on Channel 9's Footy Classified on Monday night.
"I wouldn't think Cameron would be a candidate for the succession plan, because you've got to want to be a senior coach.
"I think what Cameron would be a candidate for at any club is an assistant coach.
"I don't think he needs to make a decision to be a senior coach now. I didn't, and I don't know how many of the current senior coaches would've made the decision going in.
"But I think as long as Cameron knows there are some steps.
"If you're still unsure, go in and get your feet under the desk, become an assistant coach and see what it's like.
"Through that process he might be able to make a determination on whether he wants to be a senior coach or not."
Roos has committed to Melbourne for two seasons, with the option of a third.
"If Peter (club chief executive Peter Jackson) or someone from the clubs says, 'We really need to know. It's becoming an issue for us,' then I don't have a problem with making a decision," Roos said.
"Clearly, at some point last year there was a deadline, and you sort of get sick of being asked about it and talking about it."
The Demons hope to have Roos' successor appointed by the start of the pre-season.
And there is a sense of urgency about the process, especially if 2015 is to be Roos' last year in the top job.
"What we need is someone who's got similar views to myself on football," Roos said.
"There might be some slight tweaking and changing as we saw with John Longmire (when he took over the coaching position at the Sydney Swans from Roos in late 2010).
"But we really want some consistency with our player group so that they feel they've got a coach that's continuing something."
Roos has again expressed an interest in remaining involved at the Demons even after his time as senior coach comes to an end.
"Melbourne people are great people," he said. "They've been really accepting of me.
"So we've already spoken about some sort of role, depending on who that coach may be."
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