Disgraced former Kangaroo Tarryn Thomas will “not be pursued,” according to St Kilda CEO Carl Dilena.
Thomas is still unable to train or sign with a new club until the league gives its approval. His 18-week suspension for “multiple acts of misconduct including threatening a woman via direct messages multiple times” has now passed.
After club recruitment manager Graeme Allan was spotted meeting with the 24-year-old earlier this week, Dilena provided clarification on the club’s stance on Thomas in a statement.
Dilena stated in the statement, “The football department pursues a number of players, as it is our job to find the best talent to fit our team and club.”
“I can confirm that St Kilda will not be pursuing Tarryn Thomas after a course of due diligence.”
Coach Ross Lyon made an effort to distance himself earlier today from the Saints’ meeting with disgraced former player Tarryn Thomas, which has angered fans.
When Lyon addressed reporters at Moorabbin on Friday, he declined to comment on a meeting club recruitment manager Graeme Allan had with Thomas.
The Saints said they would issue a statement detailing the club’s stance later in the day, and he repeatedly claimed he had been told not to comment on the meeting.
Following an AFL integrity unit investigation that found Thomas, 24, guilty of violating the players’ code of conduct, North Melbourne fired him in February.
Following the meeting, dozens of St Kilda fans took to the club’s social media pages to express their outrage, threatening to cancel their memberships should Thomas be hired.
When asked if he could relate to the ire felt by some members of the team’s supporters, Lyon cited the statement that his organization has since issued.
Yes, see, my main purpose for being here is to discuss this weekend’s game. To be fair, the club has released a statement saying, “I’m a servant of the club, and I will adhere to the exact instruction I’ve been asked to execute on,” Lyon said.
“I yield to the demands of the club… I apologize for interrupting, but I’m merely the club’s servant. I can see where you’re coming from because I’ve had a fair share of pressers go right, but that’s all I have to say about it for now.
“To put it plainly, you guys already know that the board and the club executive will be issuing a statement (this Friday afternoon); I will not be commenting on anything else.
“The club will outline its stance in a statement that will be released shortly.”
During his second spell in charge of St Kilda’s list, Lyon has actively participated in its management. Last year, he met with Fremantle winger Liam Henry in an attempt to persuade him to return to the Saints.
He was questioned about whether he was trying to avoid taking accountability for the meeting with Thomas by not outlining his thoughts on the former Kangaroo.
He responded, “That’s a really good question, but I’ll refer you back to the fact that I work for the club and will be making a statement shortly.”
“I’m simply going to return; I think we can play volley all day? And I’m here to talk about the Richmond game because we’re coming off a tough loss after playing really well for a while. My demeanor won’t change because I’m a servant of the club.
