With Alastair Clarkson confirmed to be out of the running for the Blues job, there has been conjecture surrounding the exact steps the club were willing to take to get the former Hawthorn coach.
Clarkson, who won four flags with the Hawks in 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2015, has stated on multiple occasions that his wishes were to take a year off in 2022 to rest after so many years in the hot seat.
Last night on AFL 360, Clarkson once again affirmed his stance on the Carlton coaching job.
Clarko confirms he will not coach at Carlton in 2022.#AFL360 pic.twitter.com/z7keXiablC
โ Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) September 20, 2021
"I'm sticking to what I said six or eight weeks ago that I need a spell," Clarkson said on Monday evening.
"My family and I had always looked at the end of next year as being the time when we make the decisions on what we do."
RELATED: Clarkson remains steadfast in knocking back Blues
However, only minutes later on Footy Classified, veteran journalist Caroline Wilson revealed that the Carlton board were prepared to front up with a mammoth offer for Clarkson that would have exceeded their soft cap.
"The Carlton board had met in recent weeks and agreed to pay whatever luxury tax it would cost to get Alastair Clarkson and whichever assistants he brought in."
Caroline Wilson says the Blues were willing to exceed the soft cap to get Clarko.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/F8WOko9oPT
โ Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) September 20, 2021
โThe Carlton board in recent weeks had met and agreed as a group to pay whatever luxury tax it was going to cost to get Alastair Clarkson and whichever assistants he brought in,โ Wilson said on Monday night.
โClearly that would be exceeding the footy department soft cap or probably doing so and that some wealthy directors โ potentially even the outgoing Jeanne Pratt โ wouldโve been prepared to help out to pay that luxury tax.โ
The Blues have been criticised by many over the past few months for their handling of club matters, namely coach David Teague's sacking, with the club's disjointed approach leaving Teague in the lurch for some time.
Moreover, the search for his successor has been a laborious one with the likes of Ross Lyon, Brad Scott and Clarkson rejecting advances from the club's board to take on the role.
The Carlton board too has been in turmoil for a period of time, with CEO Cain Liddle leaving the job only two weeks ago and ex-Cats head Brian Cook coming in to fill the role amongst other changes.
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Although Clarkson has rejected the approach for now, all eyes will be on him come the pointy end of 2022, with coaches that are under pressure sure to be sweating even more as club's salivate at the idea of having the four-time premiership coach at the helm.
For now, however, the Carlton job is by all accounts set to be filled by Power assistant and ex-Lions coach Michael Voss, with Richmond's Adam Kingsley and Bomber assistant Daniel Giansiracusa narrowly being beaten out by the Brisbane great.
Still, there is no doubt that whoever takes the job is set to have arguably the biggest task in footy in the form of taking the side back to the promised land, with the Carlton faithful often furious at the handling of the club in recent times.
An official announcement surrounding Voss' future at Carlton has yet to be released by the club.