Former North Melbourne coach Denis Pagan admits he has concerns for the current state of the club he coached to two premierships.
The Kangaroos endured an immensely difficult 2020 season which yielded just three wins and saw them finish second bottom on the ladder.
As a result, the club culled 11 players as they strive to rebuild the playing list while Rhyce Shaw stepped down from his role as coach to focus on his mental health.
The Roos then assembled a coaching selection panel headed by Paul Roos in their bid to find a replacement for Shaw which comes amidst a recurring smattering of chatter from some corners regarding relocation to Tasmania.
With so much uncertainty surrounding North, it has the club’s Team of the Century coach somewhat worried.
“They’re in more trouble than the early settlers,” Pagan said on the Don’t Shoot The Messenger podcast.
“They’ve got to get their leadership right and their decision making right. I don’t know what the process is.
“I look at their selection panel and I think to myself, ‘I hope these people understand the responsibility they’ve got’.
“I’m looking at them and I’m saying, ‘Does anyone know the history of the North Melbourne football club?’ It’s a unique identity and football club and you’ve got to know where you came from to know where you’re going.
“You’ve really got to understand the history and the people that came before you to know what you want to do and where you want to go. Anyway, I say a lot of things and I’ve probably got to keep my mouth shut.
“They’re in a lot of trouble and I hope they get it right because I just feel like hell they’re going to push them south of the border and I don’t want any part of that, I can tell you.”
North Melbourne’s hunt for a new coach continues in earnest with Sydney Swans premiership coach Roos on a panel including club CEO Ben Amarfio, GM of football Brady Rawlings and football director and club legend Glenn Archer.
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