'He's ready': Clarkson coaching return confirmed

Alastair Clarkson is set to begin the transition back into his senior coaching role at the Kangaroos, the club has confirmed.

Clarkson, in his first year of coaching at the Kangaroos, announced he was stepping away from his role in mid-May, as the investigation into the Hawthorn racism saga hit its crescendo.

Some six weeks later, the club released a statement saying Clarkson will begin a month-long transition back into full-time work that will see him "return to the senior coaching role before the end of the current season".

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"We are pleased that Alastair has been able to get the support he needs to return to the club and work towards doing what he loves most and does best – coach the team," North Melbourne president Sonja Hood said.

"We've had some really good dialogue with Alastair and we're all comfortable he's ready to make a return into the football department ahead of getting back in the senior coach's chair later this season."

At the time he stood down, Kangaroos football boss Todd Viney said Clarkson had been "wearing a mask" throughout the year as he dealt with the Hawthorn investigation, and had informed the club he wished to stand down in a meeting with himself, chief executive Jenny Watt, Hood and his manager James Henderson.

"In that conversation, he outlined the previous eight months, where he'd had to deal with the Hawthorn investigation and the serious allegations that had been made through that complaint and not having a voice in that time, had really weighed him down in that mental space," Viney said

Hood confirmed interim coach Brett Ratten would continue in the role, as will the rest of the coaching group, until Clarkson is ready to re-take the reigns properly.

"It's also really important to acknowledge the work Brett, Viney and the rest of the footy department have done in Alastair's absence so that his return will be as smooth as possible," she said.

Since winning their first two matches of the year under Clarkson, the Kangaroos have lost their last 12 games to sit 17th on the ladder.

After a bye last weekend, they will take on the Crows in Adelaide on Saturday.

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