Kennelly given until end of the week to decide AFL future

SYDNEY Swans coach Paul Roos has given Tadhg Kennelly until the end of the week to decide whether his AFL future is with the New South Wales club.

Kennelly informed Kerry County Board chiefs on Friday night that he was to return to Australia and re-ignite his professional career.

The Listowel man heads to Sydney this week to launch his controversial book Unfinished Business and while the Swans have until December 2 – the final list lodgement date – to delist the premiership backman or re-contract him, Roos said the club needed to finalise its plans for the national and pre-season drafts before then.

However claims that Kennelly had an offer from another club, St Kilda, were last night dismissed by his manager Michael Quinlan and the Saints who last month signed Kennelly’s inter-county team-mate Tommy Walsh.

Meanwhile former Australian Compromise Rules boss Kevin Sheedy has been named as inaugural head coach of Team GWS the AFL’s western Sydney expansion team.

Sheedy, a four-time premiership coach in his 27 years with Essendon and a member of the AFL Hall of Fame, has signed a three-year deal, meaning he will coach the side in its first year in the competition in 2012.

The 61-year-old has been heavily involved in the venture over the last couple of years in his role as an AFL ambassador, and he said he jumped at the chance to be involved in setting up the club.

“I am really excited by the challenge – clearly western Sydney is a compelling opportunity for the game,” Sheedy said.

“We should have a club here, but we have work to do to make sure we can show it will have the business, community and sporting support.

“I think I have a lot to offer and can play a strong role across a range of areas to give this club the best chance of being granted a licence by the AFL Commission.”