Western Bulldogs confident Luke Beveridge will sign contract extension as rival clubs seek experienced coaches

Premiership coach Luke Beveridge is sure to attract interest from Carlton, North Melbourne and possibly St Kilda, but Bulldogs president Peter Gordon is confident he’s going nowhere.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge could be a target of Carlton and North Melbourne. Picture: AAP

Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon is confident the club will re-sign Luke Beveridge, thwarting any attempted poaching raids on the premiership coach.

Beveridge is signed at the kennel until the end of next year but could emerge as a target for Carlton, North Melbourne and possibly St Kilda, should it part ways with Alan Richardson.

Gordon acknowledged “it was an interesting environment” for clubs, with at least two senior coaching vacancies currently up for grabs.

FOOTSCRAY FIGHTBACK: THE NIGHT DOGS CALLED LAST DRINKS

But the president said he had no doubt Beveridge, 48, would ink an extension to stay at the kennel for the long term.

“I’m fully confident that at a time that is comfortable for me, him and the club that his contract will be extended,” Gordon said.

“But neither of us are fretting on it and that is the way a good relationship between a coach, club and a president should be.”

Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon joined the SuperFooty Podcast to discuss Luke Beveridge and look back on the Footscray Fightback in 1989.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST

Gordon said Beveridge had already proven he was a top-line senior coach, guiding the young Bulldogs to a stunning premiership in 2016.

But the past two years haven’t gone to plan with the club surprisingly missing the 2017-18 finals campaigns off the back of the flag.

The Dogs need to win five of their last seven games to storm back into the eight this year.

Gordon said Beveridge was the right man to lead the club towards its next flag, despite any interest rival clubs may have in the former Melbourne, St Kilda and Western Bulldogs midfielder.

“He will be senior coach of the club for a long, long time, much longer than I will remain in the job as president. I am fully confident of that,” Gordon said.

“But, of course, it’s an interesting environment at the moment, because there are a number of other clubs who look like they will change coaches or who have already announced changes of coach this year.

Luke Beveridge will be Bulldogs coach for a “long, long time”, according to president Peter Gordon. Picture: Getty Images

“In one sense, it’s not a bad market for credentialed coaches and ‘Bevo’ is certainly one of them.

“But I choose to believe what he has already built at the club and the opportunities he’s got going forward to build on what he’s already achieved (will help keep him).

“We’ve got one of the best young lists in the competition and ‘Bevo’ has made that list and grown that group and I think you have seen that through the course of this season.”

However, any delays on a new deal could open the door for rivals to swoop, with Carlton football director Chris Judd declaring the Blues did not want a new coach on “training wheels”.

Former St Kilda great Leigh Montagna said Beveridge was an ideal target for St Kilda, if it moved on Richardson this season.

“If I was St Kilda I’d be asking the question of Luke Beveridge and maybe throwing that godfather offer out to Beveridge and say, ‘Mate, this is an opportunity to come to St Kilda and get this club back on track and back where it deserves to be’,” Montagna said on Triple M.

Beveridge was briefly appointed St Kilda coaching director in 2014, while his father, John, is a legendary recruiter at Moorabbin.