PAUL Roos has ruled himself out of the race for the Collingwood coaching job.
The former Sydney and Melbourne coach ended persistent rumours when he said today: “If I was asked to coach Collingwood, I would not coach Collingwood.”
But Roos said he would be happy to sit down with Magpies president and Fox Footy colleague Eddie McGuire to discuss the Collingwood situation.
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Collingwood is waiting on the completion of a strategic review of its football operations before making a call on Buckley after six years in the job.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone at Collingwood,” Roos said on Triple M.
“As an industry that we are a bit sceptical but I think it’s a unique situation with Bucks and Eddie.
“Generally if someone’s in the position that Nathan’s is in you would think the club is speaking to other people, but I think this situation is unique.
“When you talk to Eddie he often says, ‘I think Nathan will do the right thing by the football club’.
“I genuinely believe in this situation they will not speak to anyone until Round 23 is over and then maybe they’ll go and speak to other people depending on what the review says.”
Former Demons coach Paul Roos will be out of the country over summer.Source:Getty Images
Nathan Buckley is waiting to learn his coaching future.Source:Getty Images
Roos said he had fielded calls from a number of clubs seeking advice on coaching appointments and he would be happy to help the Pies in a similar informal way.
But he won’t be committing to anything beyond that.
“I get on well with Eddie, I’d be happy to have a coffee with Eddie, there’s no problems with that,” he said.
“I’m away pretty much from September 30 to January 15 … I’ve moved on.
“I don’t like to mislead people … as it sits now the furthest thing in my mind is getting involved in a football club in any capacity.”
Roos said Collingwood didn’t have to rush a decision on Buckley’s future.
“Given they’ve waited so long, I’d be surprised if they make a decision in the first two or three days or a week (after Round 23).
“They may as well take a month to make a decision.
“I’m not suggesting they wait for the sake of it, but given they’ve waited so long you’ve got to be really good on the process.
“Clearly the first part of it is what does that report state in relation to the senior coach of the Collingwood Football Club.”
Originally published as Roos: I will not coach Collingwood
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