Mitchell keen to extend Western Force stay

Mitchell keen to extend Western Force stay

Western Force coach John Mitchell is keen to extend his stay with the Super 14 team, the New Zealander said today.

We want you to stay Mitch!

John the Force is strong with you, look to the Force.

Stay Mitch Stay!!

Somebody said it was officially announced today...is that BS?

I think it's a pretty sure thing he'll extend... which is bloody good news in my opinion since there don't seem, to me, to be many others even a fraction as qualified as Mitch. The coach security should have a nice knock-on effect too for next year when Shep, Sharpie, Pocock etc come off contract. Tis always easier to resign when you know who the coach will be.

up until 2010 but as yet nothing is official...

he'll stay on, with this team and supporters, why would you want to leave.

This is the latest version I can find TEF:

Mitch close to signing

PA Sport

Western Force coach John Mitchell is hoping to finalise a two-year extension to his contract by the end of next week.

The former All Blacks coach admits he is flattered to have been offered an extension even before the Rebel Sport Super 14 semi-final places have been decided.

The Force go into the penultimate round of action in seventh place and needing to score bonus-point wins in their last two matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the final four.

Despite this, the club's board - buoyed by the fact that Perth crowds have rocketed since the team entered the competition in 2006 - have decided Mitchell deserves an extension to his original three-year deal.

"I am honoured by the club to open (negotiations) before the season has even finished," Mitchell told the Courier Mail.

"I don't want to muck around people, they have been fantastic in their professionalism.

"So I would like to get it all tied up by the end of next week so the players and my family are settled."

Mitchell has been impressed with the way the club has been run in its foundation years and is convinced the West Australian team will have success during his reign.

"I still had another year on contract, but it was always going to be decided by what the club wanted to do and I guess what I wanted to do from this point onwards," Mitchell said.

"It is fantastic to be involved in the foundation period, but also to have a chance to continue momentum and move forward and bring some success to this club.

"The greatest opportunity for us all is that we stay together for a lengthy period and get better at what we do.

"Eventually we will bring success and we will become the most deserving."

Mitchell insists contract negotiations have not distracted him from focusing on this weekend's vital Rebel Sport Super 14 match against South African team the Cheetahs in Perth.

I'm sure bringing up his family in Perth would also be a reason for him!!

He is also said to talk about board shorts and running on the beach - on inside rugby last night they talked about him as
"Aussie John Mitchell" and a possible Wallaby Coach for 2011

Here's hoping apart from confusing us all about how he plays everyone in different positions to the ones we would expect - he's doing a great job - a S14 finals contender in less than 2 years - who would have put money on that