The future of Gold Coast coach Guy McKenna is uncertain after the club board confirmed that it would review his position, with a decision on McKenna reached in the week after the grand final.
Following a four and a half hour board meeting on Thursday, the Suns revealed that the club's football operations chief Marcus Ashcroft would conduct a review of the entire football department - including coaching, recruitment and list management, high performance, welfare and the club academy.
Suns chairman John Witheriff confirmed that the review would consider the position of the senior coach. McKenna, who is contracted for 2015, has come under pressure since the Suns fell away badly late in the season following Gary Ablett's shoulder surgery.
In confirming the review of McKenna's position, Witheriff said: "We've asked Marcus to report back to the board in the week of the 30th September."
"I think we've had the right strategy and the right people to now. We're six years in and I'm a great fan of our senior coach - I've always said that.
"The review is really directed, you know, do we change direction or do we keep going the same way we're going. The look ahead is a five year look ahead. We've come a long way and that's outstanding - the question is do we have the people to take us to the next part of the journey."
Witheriff said the timing of Ashcroft's report back on McKenna - the review of the senior coach would last as little as 11-12 days - was not based on any deadline clauses in McKenna's contract. "The look ahead was a strategic review about the right strategy and the right people to deliver," he said.
AFL legend Malcolm Blight, who is the club's coaching adviser, will not be involved in the review, except that Ashcroft will obviously speak to Blight about the findings. Blight has been a strong supporter of McKenna thus far.
Asked if every position in football was being reviewed, Witheriff said: "That's really a matter for Marcus Ashcroft. I don't want to pre-empt his report."
But he said that all aspects of the football department - recruiting, list management, welfare, high performance (fitness/conditioning) and the academy - were subject to a comprehensive review.
The Suns lost six of their last seven matches to miss the finals after being in a strong position midway through the season.
Witheriff also released a statement. "The football team has delivered great wins this season on the field, and we are keen as a club to take the next step towards greater success," he said.
"The football review announced by the board will assist in making decisions about season 2015.
"As a young club we should be very proud, but our members and the Gold Coast community deserve to see us aiming higher every year."This review will give us the information we need to make the right decisions."
The Suns are also seeking a new chief executive and have received more than 100 applications for that position. Witheriff confirmed that chief operating officer Andrew Travis would be a leading candidate.
Witheriff said the club had made enormous progress this year off the field, with attendances rising by 18 percent, membership up eight percent and sponsorship increasingly by 15 percent. He said the club was happy with its overall progress.
"The whole focus is on the next five years," he said.
