Carlton has been rejected by Alastair Clarkson for the second time with the master coach reportedly “adamant” on taking a year off from the game in 2022.
According to a report from The Age, Clarkson has already begun to explore opportunities regarding his personal development in the United States next year.
MORE: The real reason ‘spooked’ Clarkson turned down Carlton
The 53-year-old will receive a $900,000 payout he was owed for the final year of his contract with Hawthorn, which allows him the unique opportunity take time off before embarking on the next chapter of his career.
The four-time premiership winner was widely recognised as the No.1 target in newly-installed Carlton president Luke Sayers’ hunt for the club’s next senior coach after the sacking of David Teague.
After the other favourite for the Blues job, Ross Lyon, also pulled his name out of the running this week, Blues powerbrokers made a second attempt at luring Clarkson to the club.
According to The Age, Carlton also approached departing Geelong CEO Brian Cook to join the club, in the hope that Cook’s appointment could get Clarkson to backflip on his own decision.
Clarkson’s second rejection leaves Carlton in an awkward position, about to embark on a coaching search with each of their top two choices having already said no to the job.
Carlton announced a six-person ‘coaching subcommittee’ this week, which includes club greats Greg Williams and David Parkin, who will decide on the team’s next coach.