Australian Football League side Hawthorn President Andrew Newbold "believes the introduction of the football department tax from next season could inadvertently bring greater stability to the tenure of senior coaches," according to Jon Pierik of THE AGE. The wages of coaches are a "major component of football department expenditure," set to be capped around A$9.3M ($8.2M) next season for "non-player football spending." Clubs which exceed this figure "will pay a tax of 37.5 cents for every dollar spent." The Hawks have "budgeted to exceed the cap," and will likely pay about A$100,000 in taxes. This is in addition to the new revenue tax, which has been capped at A$500,000, a "figure likely to be paid by the Hawks and Collingwood." Gold Coast, Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs have "sacked their coaches" since the completion of the '14 campaign, despite Guy McKenna, Brenton Sanderson and Brendan McCartney "all being under contract." Their pay-outs "almost certainly will be included in the current football
financial year, expiring October 31, meaning they won't potentially
push clubs over the football-department tax next year." However, "surprise
sackings from next season could have a detrimental impact" (THE AGE, 10/21).
