Port Adelaide Chairman David Koch has revealed the latest development in the club’s mooted coaching succession plan involving long-time assistant Josh Carr.
Despite the incumbent Ken Hinkley penning a two-year contract extension through to 2025 late last year, speculation remains regarding Carr’s future role at Alberton.
The 43-year-old Carr, who played in Port Adelaide’s groundbreaking 2004 premiership, currently heads the Power’s midfield group under Hinkley’s command.
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After retiring in 2010, Carr joined Port’s coaching ranks and served for five seasons before signing on as North Adelaide’s senior coach in 2016.
Following four years in the SANFL with the Roosters, Carr ventured back to the AFL assistant scene with Fremantle for three more years before returning home to Port Adelaide in 2023.
Hinkley impressed by ‘outrageous’ Rozee | 06:18
Touted as a future senior coach, whispers about Carr succeeding Hinkley as the Power’s head mentor haven’t died down, even after the 57-year-old cemented another extension in August 2023.
Speaking to the ABC on Friday, Koch spoke highly of Port’s gem assistant, noting Hinkley’s support of Carr as the club’s future head coach.
“Ken’s really supportive of Josh developing into a senior coach … Ken has publicly said he would like to see him as the senior coach of Port Adelaide,” Koch said.
“We have extraordinarily high regard for (Carr). You know what sort of bloke he is. He’s got a way, he’s worked at other organisations, he knows the Port Adelaide way, and we put a lot of effort into coaching development.
“We would rather train-up from (inside the club) than outside. I’m not sure if a lot of clubs do it, but we have a development coach for coaches. So, we put a lot of resources into it, and our assistant coaches are sensational, and we produced — you’re welcome — great head coaches for other clubs. See all of them coming through?”
Asked point-blank if Carr had an understanding from the Power board that he is next in line to coach the club, Koch was succinct and definitive.
“Not from the board,” he responded.
Despite increasing external noise, nothing appears concrete or imminent regarding a Carr promotion.
Koch has served as the Power’s Chairman since 2012, while Hinkley has been at Port’s senior coaching helm since 2013.
Port Adelaide dispatched Essendon on Friday night at Adelaide Oval, winning by 69 points as the powerful midfield contingent of Connor Rozee, Zak Butters and Jason Horne-Francis ran rampant against the Bombers.
Source Agencies
