The phone call that ended Mark Neeld's career

THE DEPARTED: MARK Neeld was in his AAMI Park office planning the Demons' first training session of the week when the call came.

Neeld never won over players

MARK Neeld was in his AAMI Park office planning the Demons' first training session of the week when the call came.

I’d be described if Wattsy described out relationship other than very good.

Chief executive Peter Jackson didn't normally call him at 7.55am on a Monday.

Neeld never won over the players
Demons two years in hell
Moneyball was a joke

"I had a fair indication when I took the call," he said.

Neeld was summoned to the CEO's office at the MCG.

Despite having stopped reading newspapers and watching the TV news, he knew the theories circulating about his job security.

da24d272-d700-11e2-a48a-dd6939d70aef

He also knew Jackson had met the AFL on Friday and the man who had employed him, president Don McLardy, had resigned soon after.

By the time he made it over the footbridge, Neeld figured his number was up.

Jackson was typically straight with him. He was sacked, effective immediately, and would be paid out the 18 months left on his contract - a figure believed to total about $600,000.

An hour later, Jackson addressed a full staff meeting at AAMI Park and told them about the latest head to roll.

The players and football department staff then stayed behind to hear from Neeld, who had not been a part of the first meeting.

Dees want Roos

At 10.35am, Neeld, Jackson and acting president Peter Spargo fronted the media.

The first question was obvious. How are you feeling?

"I think at the moment the emotion is disappointment. No doubt, over the next few days, weeks, months, however long it takes, I'll be on an emotional roller-coaster," Neeld said.

"It's certainly been a roller-coaster ride the last 18 months. It's been a life experience.

Medical updates for every club

"I have an improved skill set, a different skill set, a hardened skill set - whatever you want to describe it as, having been here for 18 months."

Would he have done anything differently?

"No, I wouldn't. We started out with some clear directions and goals. I didn't see it finishing like this."

Neeld, 41, did not shy away from taking his slice of the blame for the Demons' horrible season.

"The whole club is taking responsibility," he said.

"There's going to be changes across the club and I'm one. I'll take responsibility for my component."

While he was looking forward to a two-week family holiday in Thailand, he still wanted to be a part of the AFL scene.

"It hasn't (lessened my appetite), footy's a great game," he said. "I've still got a few mates around. Maybe they'll offer me a job."

Asked what went wrong, Neeld said: "Well, I'm not so sure. I don't know. We're 18 months into a three-year contract so I would have loved to have seen it out. It wasn't the case."|

Neeld last night defended his relationship with the playing group and praised the Dees board for their communication throughout his 18-month tenure.

"I never once questioned my relationship with the players," he told Footy Classified.

"I’d be surprised if (Jack) Wattsy described out relationship other than very good."

Neeld didn't budge on his sentiments yesterday morning, declaring he had the Dees on the right track.

He again defended the controversial decision to burden youngsters Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes with the captaincy, and refused to bite back at departed Dee Brent Moloney.

The Lions midfielder posted a photo on Instagram hours after Neeld's sacking that read: "karma is a BITCH."

Meanwhile, Garry Lyon last night called on Gerard Healy to help appoint the Dees next coach.

- with Sam Landsberger