Melbourne in no rush to announce leaders; locks in major sponsor for next three years

MELBOURNE announces major sponsor, and says it's unlikely to select its next captain until the eve of the home and away season.

MELBOURNE is unlikely to select its next captain until the eve of the home and away season.

Speaking this morning as his club announced it had secured major sponsor Automotive Holdings Group (AHG), the country's largest automotive retailing group for the next three years, coach Paul Roos said his club was in no rush to appoint its next leader.

Earlier this month co-captain Jack Trengove stood down from the co-captaincy role he shared with fellow youngster Jack Grimes.

Roos said the process for selecting a captain would start now, although an appointment was more likely to be made in February.

The Demons are also on the hunt for a successor to Roos, who when taking on the top job signed for two years with an option for a third season.

Roos said it was not out of the question his eventual replacement could come from one of his assistant coaches.

AHG will back the club from 2014-2016.

As part of the deal, AHG will occupy the front and back of the Melbourne jumper throughout each of the next three seasons.

Speaking at the sponsorship launch, Demons chief excutive Peter Jackson revealed it cost the club $1.45 million to clear the decks and install the Paul Roos regime.

Jackson said the club's "management restructure" included a $1 million grant and $450,000 from the AFL in matched club fundraising.

"That all went into 2013 to restructuring the club, we haven't got any change out of that, it all went in paying out contracts and undertaking a management restructure," Jackson said.

"The reality is, we haven't got anything from them for 2014, it was a one-off grant as we're back on our own again."

The Demons say they've closed the chapter on one of their worst seasons, and could look forward to better financial health alongside an improved on-field performance.

"2013's been pretty awful, we know about that... we think we've got a good base going forward, something this club certainly didn't have at the start of last year," Jackson said.

"We'll be back in the black in my view in 2014."

- with AAP

Things are falling into place off field for Melbourne. Club CEO Peter Jackson and coach Paul Roos announced a new major sponsor on Monday.