Newly minted North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson has been reminded of his contractual agreement to his club of 17 years, with Hawthorn calling the mastermind into question.
Despite parting company with the Hawthorn Football Club at the cessation of the 2021 season, given Clarkson negotiated a $900,000 payout from the Bungil Bagora side, certain obligations between former steward to club remain in place.
According to reports from Jake Niall ofย The Age,ย Clarkson has been forewarned about not poaching any players, coaches, staff or sponsors from the Hawks until his tenure at Arden Street officially commences.
Given the four-time premiership coach is still owed a cool $450,000 ahead of the commencement of his new deal on November 1, the situation surrounding what is green-lit behaviour or not is ambiguous.
Add in that Hawthorn's final payment to Clarkson isn't set to arrive until mid-November at the latest - a period in which the 54-year-old will have every tooth involved in shaping and shedding the Roos' roster - further confusion reigns.
As stated by Niall, Clarkson's manager, James Henderson, was recently contacted by Hawthorn's head of legal, risk and integrity Nick Holland, with the former Hawks spearhead reminding the coach of the decorum required.
With Clarkson's contract to the Hawks set to expire on October 31, the ex-Hawks' shot-caller is yet to be handed the keys to a Mazda, instead driving a Nissan - one of four major partners to Hawthorn.
Whether the most successful steward of the 21st century is still rigged up to an iinet bundle, jogging on Adidas runners or dining out on the Colonel is still to be determined.
Although reminded of his duties, it remains to be seen just how many jurisdictions Hawthorn will have over Clarkson's ability to pull strings, as the Hawks are in no position to deny shifts between Waverley and Arden Street on the suspicion of collusion.
Though the burden of proof lies at the Hawks' talons should they wish to cry foul, Niall is of the view the club's feathers were ruffled due to Clarkson's propensity for surrounding himself with trusted confidants.
