Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains has addressed recent speculation about a strained relationship between coach Luke Beveridge and football boss Chris Grant.According to a recent report, the pair’s strained relationship has been strained by the departure of assistant coach Rohan Smith, who Beveridge wanted to keep at the kennel.A review of the club’s off-season activities and football also led to a reversal of Grantand’s role, which the report called Dogsand#039; still plans to fire Beveridge from reporting directly to his manager.andquot;Any suggestion that any relationship, including Chris and Luke’s, has failed is frankly false, as is any suggestion that there have been role reversals based on that,andquot; Bains told the publication.andquot;Kris and Luke worked together for a very long time and together with others managed the most successful outdoor period in the history of the club. This could not happen without a strong and productive relationship.andquot;The club was clearly disappointed with the way the 2023 season ended and the process that followed is well documented. Our soccer program has natural tensions in this process and the club has worked through this summer to implement a change that we believe will bring us success.andquot;Offseason addition Matthew Egan has earned a promotion to a new football operations position following an evaluation. His move from coach and performance manager came as the club looked to further support Grant.Confirming that Grant would remain in charge of the club and the men’s football program, Bains told AFL.com.au any rumors or tensions between Grant and Beveridge were “false”.As external pressure mounts on Beveridge ahead of his 10th season at Whitten Oval, the club internally agrees the manager is their man of the future.Recent assessments by the club have suggested that Beveridge, under contract until the end of next year, will remain at the helm because of his support network and faith in his subordinates.andquot;The position of the club has not changed that Luke Beveridge is the right coach. The year-end internal review process confirmed this, andquot; Baths added.andquot;The main reasons for this are the confidence of all key people in his ability to lead the football club, but more importantly the trust and belief that the playing group and football department staff have in him. senior coachandquot;At the end of the day, all the changes we make are not only to bring out the best in the program, but to do what strong clubs do, which is to support people in the best possible way. Of course, it is extremely important for our parents, training is one of them. We feel that as part of the decisions made, the club will better support the program and Luke personally to the best of his ability.”The Bulldogs missed out on the top eight for just the third time in Beveridge’s reign and last year and another disappointing campaign are likely to increase the pressure on the 53-year-old in 2024.For the Western Bulldogs this year, among other things, is club who plans to keep free agent Tim English beyond this year.The All-Australian squad is expected to attract strong interest from the West Coast, who could be plotting a lucrative move to lure the Dog star back to his home state.Although England’s decision is not expected until the second half of the year, Dogsand#039; the roster management team, led by Sam Power, is in constant dialogue with the English and management.andquot;It is clear that Tim will remain with the Bulldogs. Sam Power continues ongoing and ongoing discussions with the head of Timand#039;Andrew McDougall, andquot; Bains told AFL.com.au.andquot;We had nothing but Tim happy with the club. We hope our program will (and will) bounce back, which will not only give Tim, but all our players confidence in the club’s long-term future on the field.andquot;The Western Bulldogs open the 2024 season against Melbourne in Round 1, with a pair of pre-season matches against Hawthorn in the works..
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