Eddie McGuire says a new deal for Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is not yet on the table

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says the Magpies will not entertain the idea of extending Nathan Buckley’s contract in the near future.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says it would be “madness” to extend Nathan Buckley’s coaching contract now and it is not a discussion that is “even on the table” for the time being.

Just days after appointing a new head of football in Graham Wright, McGuire said the Magpies were not fazed by the prospect of Buckley entering this season without a contract for 2022.

This year is set to be Buckley’s 10th at Collingwood and he has steered the Magpies to finals appearances the past three seasons, including the 2018 Grand Final.

“He doesn’t worry about any of that stuff,” McGuire said of Buckley’s contract situation.

“That’s the least of his worries.

“He knows our situation at Collingwood. We love Nathan Buckley. The one thing we don’t have to worry about is him putting in and trying and doing everything that he possibly can.

“We’ve just made some appointments so it would be madness for me to sign him up as I’m leaving with one year to go (as president) and just hire Graham Wright two days ago.

“We’ve got plenty of time on things. There’s no rush. The COVID gives it another layer of intrigue as we go.

“Also, you have to be a little bit smarter in how you analyse how teams have gone.”

The 2021 season will be Eddie McGuire’s last as Collingwood president. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett

Collingwood bombed out of finals with a 68-point semi-final loss to Geelong in 2020 but McGuire believed the side “did pretty well last year” under the circumstances.

“At the start of the year I thought we were just about primed to win it and then we had a few injuries,” he said on SEN radio in South Australia.

“We’re pretty confident we’ll have a good year this year.”

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley last week penned a two-year contract extension until 2023, leaving Buckley as one of only three out-of-contact coaches this year.

The other two coaches without deals for 2022 are Brisbane’s Chris Fagan and Richmond’s Damien Hardwick.

New North Melbourne coach David Noble is on a “rolling” contact, but will be given time to turn around the Kangaroos.

“There will be a time when it’s appropriate (to discuss) but it’s just not an issue and we’re not going to let it become an issue,” McGuire said of Buckley’s situation.

“I know this becomes something the media get obsessed with. I’ve lived through it all my life so I know what’s going on with things.

“Let’s just play the game, see how it goes, and if there’s an announcement to be made it will be made in due course.”

McGuire says Collingwood is not going to let Nathan Buckley’s contract situation “become an issue” this year. Picture: Getty Images

McGuire will step down as Collingwood president at season’s end after 23 years in the role but said he would remain involved in football.

“I just want to enjoy this year. The reason why I gave it 12 months was because we’re in the COVID situation,” McGuire said.

“It’s a ‘live in the moment’ year again and we need to be able to keep going.

“It gives 12 months for us to just really take our time, get the right people into the club that we need to get and set things up.

“I’ll still be going to the footy. I also love the AFL and previously to being at Collingwood, and while I’ve been Collingwood president I like to think I’ve contributed to the competition as a whole and can help other clubs as we keep going.

“I’ll still be involved and still be doing all the media so I’ll be there, and of course I’ll be barracking for the Pies.

“I’ll be sitting down there next to Joffa. I’m going to go and buy a gold jacket.”