Eddie McGuire angrily denied rumours of Collingwood sacking

AFL Footy Show host Eddie McGuire has lashed out at rumours circulating the footy world regarding his beloved Collingwood club.

Collingwood President Eddie McGuire looks on after the round 18 AFL match.

COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire has used the AFL Footy Show to hit out at those spreading rumours about the Magpies coaching position.

That role is currently occupied by club legend Nathan Buckley, but after a number of underwhelming seasons, the former Collingwood captain remains under the blowtorch.

The Collingwood job has been linked to several names, with Fremantle boss Ross Lyon tied to the position in recent days.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire with the fans. Pic: Michael Klein

But McGuire lost his cool when AFL Footy Show panellist Sam Newman, cheekily asked him to answer claims Lyon was firming for the job, and had held talks with the Footy Show host.

“No I have not and it is a total lie,” McGuire told the AFL Footy Show.

“There has been no discussion with any coach. I’ll say this once and for all, nothing is happening. I get sick of all this.

“Every day there is a new person. Brad Scott was going to coach Collingwood five minutes ago, then Paul Roos is in there today.”

Eddie puts to bed those rumours of Ross Lyon potentially moving to Collingwood. #9AFLFootyShow pic.twitter.com/wk3NoGU9WW

— The AFL Footy Show (@AFLFootyShow) August 17, 2017

Lyon was forced to recently defend his position at Fremantle after reports emerged that he had approached Collingwood about Buckley’s position.

Former Brownlow medallist Brad Hardie claimed on Perth radio that Lyon approached the Magpies about making the shift back to Victoria. Hardie claimed Collingwood rejected Lyon’s approach.

Lyon, contracted with Fremantle until the end of 2020, says he was disgusted by Hardie’s comments.

“I am bitterly disappointed that such so-called journalism even sees the light of day,” Lyon said in a statement.

“I have contacted Brad Hardie directly and voiced my disgust at his comments. “They are totally without foundation and not based on fact in any way, shape or form. Such an erroneous and reckless claim should be exposed for what it is — a complete fabrication and a falsehood.”

Dockers head coach Ross Lyon speaks to the media.

But, while McGuire is shooting down the rumours of a replacement, Buckley still has no idea about his future. The current senior coach admitted as much to the media this week.

Buckley confirmed on Thursday that Collingwood has no plans to end or extend his tenure as Magpies coach until after round 23.

Collingwood guaranteed the out-of-contract coach’s tenure until the end of the season back in July in a bid to ward off questions about his future and return the club’s focus to on-field matters.

It worked, with the Magpies returning three wins and a draw in their best block of football this season.

Nathan Buckley, Senior Coach of the Magpies celebrates with Eddie McGuire.

That form hasn’t convinced powerbrokers to break with their pledge and re-sign Buckley for a seventh season.

Asked whether he was 100 per cent committed to staying on in 2018 if offered the chance to do so, Buckley said “that’ll all be part of the discussion that will take place at the end of the year”.

“The club is gathering information for what its future is, I’m interested in seeing what that is also and I’ll be a part of that discussion.

“It’s not something I’m thinking about until the end of the year.” Collingwood has two MCG matches to round out its season, against Geelong and Melbourne on consecutive Saturday afternoons.

Magpies head coach Nathan Buckley walks from the field.

When the final siren on August 26 sounds, Buckley won’t know if it is his last match as Magpies coach.

“We’ve said the end of the season would be when those discussions are going to take place so I wouldn’t expect to hear anything before the Melbourne game,” he said.

- with AAP

Originally published as Eddie McGuire angrily denied rumours of Collingwood sacking