MELBOURNEfc today announced that its coach for the next 3 years will be Dean Bailey.

Bailey, age 40, has been assistant coach at Port Adelaide since 2002, during which time Port has played in five final series, including a premiership and two preliminary finals. He was also a development coach at Essendon when it made consecutive Grand Final appearances in 2000 and 2001. He played 53 games for Essendon from 1987-1992, and an additional 60 games with Glenelg 1993-1996.

MELBOURNEfc Chairman Paul Gardner said: "From day one we have been determined, and disciplined, about selecting the best coach for our team and our times. That decision needed to be a very informed one, rather than instinctive or emotionally driven.

"The process we established gave us a fantastic short-list, but it was a unanimous Club decision that Dean Bailey will be that coach.

"On what we have observed, heard and discussed, Dean Bailey will help underscore the new beginning for MELBOURNEfc as we prepare to celebrate 2008 as not just as the year we were ‘born’, but the year in which the club is ‘reborn’.

"Dean’s approach to coaching and developing players is contemporary, innovative and exciting.

"He has made an enormous effort to develop himself as a senior coach and has benefited from his time with very successful AFL people such as Kevin Sheedy, Mark Williams, Denis Pagan and Alistair Clarkson, as well successful figures at the Institute of Sport, soccer, and basketball.

"Just as our Club did last year, Dean has also gone out of his way to visit successful clubs in the English Premier League, and to continue with post-graduate studies.

"We are very confident that Dean will work with other key Club staff to make a quick and major contribution to the development of an environment at MELBOURNEfc that gets improved outcomes in rigor, resources, relationships and results.

" It's a major achievement for Dean to become Coach of the original AFL club, about to turn 150, and I trust that all our supporters will see the coming year as the year to truly make sure the heart beats true for the Red and the Blue.

“We had a terrific final five contenders including caretaker coach Mark Riley who remains under contract. The club deeply appreciates Mark’s willingness to take up a caretaker’s role, and his work ethic and enthusiasm has been fantastic.

“The club had originally intended to finalise the appointment with Dean over the weekend and inform other candidates, but after Port Adelaide confronted Dean about his future, we had to fast track the process and secure Dean’s services and talk to all other contenders prior to our announcement today,” said Gardner.

Newly appointed Coach, Dean Bailey said today: "I am absolutely thrilled to get this opportunity. I have worked hard for a long time to get to be a senior coach and to achieve that goal at a club with all the history of MELBOURNEfc is truly a dream come true.

"But for all the wonderful history we will celebrate next year, I am more excited about the future opportunities with a Club that is clearly getting itself out of what has been a challenging period, has some smart and bold ideas, and is committed to getting the results.

"The selection process was extremely professional, and the fact I was able to get from responding to their newspaper advertisement to being on a short list with some of the game's most talented people was an honour in itself, but to get the appointment is fantastic.

"I have been privileged to work under Mark Williams at Port Adelaide and have real regrets about leaving that club when it is on the cusp of more success, but nothing is forever in football and I am pleased the club supports me taking this opportunity.

"There is a solid base to build on from the work done by Neale Daniher and Chris Fagan, but I will be working hard with all the players and key staff to get the club onto a fresh and positive trajectory.

"We will have a strong group of young and talented players capable of playing vigorous, competitive and exciting football. I see this group as being very coach able, and I see myself as a teacher and developer.

"Successful teams see each and every day as an opportunity to improve, to train and prepare professionally, and to understand the game and the role everyone plays in that game. For me and everyone else at the club, opportunities start today, and I look forward to seizing those opportunities," Bailey said.