Melbourne board stands by under-fire coach Mark Neeld

MARK ROBINSON: THE most-hyped board meeting in recent memory ended without bloodletting.

THE most-hyped board meeting in recent memory ended without bloodletting.

It was a shock to some. Not to others.

Certainly not for Mark Neeld, who left yesterday's exhaustive meeting confident he had the support of the board.

Those words generally are notorious when discussing a coach's future. But not this time.

In essence, the mood outside the club was not a reflection of the mood at the board table.

Whether you agree with that or not is not the point.

Clearly, the Demons were in a position to act and they didn't.

The decision not to sack Neeld - a vote didn't take place, nor was it even discussed - suggests he will coach until the end of the season.

If they didn't do it yesterday, after yet another shellacking, what's the point doing it at Round 14 or 18?

It was suggested last night Neeld could still be sacked next week after the Queen's Birthday game against Collingwood at the MCG.

That would be staggering, for the sentiment last night was Neeld would be given time. It would also be a slap in the face for Neeld.

The Demons, mind you, didn't give Neeld unconditional support in a statement released last night.

"Our on-field performances have not met expectations this year and everyone in the football department continues to face ongoing assessment in their roles, as do those employed in other areas of the club," the statement said.

"The club will make no further comment at this time, in relation to the senior coach position."

The welcome news was the appointment of interim chief executive Peter Jackson until the end of the 2014 season.

The experienced Jackson and senior football official Neil Craig are said to have challenged the board to stay the course yesterday, Craig in particular hammering home the fact that poor clubs bow to public pressure.

Jackson maintained that Neeld had a difficult working environment, and that Neeld - and the club - ideally needed to structure the football department properly before he could be assessed.

Football manager Josh Mahoney and development and strategy coach Todd Viney are also understood to have been supportive of Neeld yesterday.

At 1-9 after 10 rounds, with diminishing crowds, terrible losses and speculation that opposition clubs are circling the players, Neeld needs all the support he can get.

If anything, by not sacking him, it indicates the club's hierarchy is also accepting the responsibility for this whole mess.

For if Neeld went, then so should those who put him there.