Mark Neeld will coach this week but his Melbourne future remains up in the air Club great David Schwarz says Melbourne is in decay, and mighty close to becoming the next Fitzroy. Mark Neeld will coach against Richmond. Picture: Wayne Ludbey MARK Neeld will coach against Richmond on Sunday. Melbourne has backed its embattled coach to continue in the role, with the immediate focus on a restructure of the club's dysfunctional football department. New chief executive Peter Jackson spoke to Neeld yesterday and told him to get on with the job amid calls for his sacking. The Demons face a tough month with matches at the MCG against Richmond, Fremantle (Patersons Stadium), Hawthorn and Collingwood. The club's board did not meet yesterday and are not scheduled to convene until early next month. But more inept performances like Sunday's 10-goal loss to Gold Coast could yet see Neeld removed. Jackson has begun a sweeping review of the club's operations and signalled major changes. The roles of football manager Josh Mahoney, director of sports performance Neil Craig, list manager Tim Harrington and player development and strategy manager Todd Viney will be overhauled. Confusion over reporting lines and responsibilities within the football department is regarded as an issue. Some club figures have expressed sympathy for Neeld given the club's state of disrepair. Demons great David Schwarz yesterday warned the club was in danger of becoming the next Fitzroy. "As a Melbourne member and as a Melbourne person who loves their club dearly, we're watching the club decay before our very eyes," Schwarz told SEN radio. It's in free-fall. Whether it's on-field or off-field, you cannot see any light at the end of the tunnel. I never wanted to ever say this because you don't like to be derogatory towards an ex-club. But Fitzroy were on their knees and eventually they were no longer in existence. Melbourne is a bee's whisker from being in the Fitzroy position. Jackson and the Demons board have also identified sponsor relations as another problem area. Melbourne has lost several major sponsors recently, including Russian IT security company Kaspersky, Hankook Tyres, Volvo and Energy Watch. The disconnect between the club's football department, based at AAMI Park, and the administration at the MCG has also been tabled as a weakness. Neeld is contracted until the end of next season. MELBOURNE will be faced with a choice between experience and promise if it decides to move on Mark Neeld By Jay Clark Rodney Eade Collingwood coaching director Master tactician would be a prized get for the Dees. Shines in front of the cameras and squeezed every drop of talent out of the Bulldogs. Comfortable at the Pies, but could be lured back to the senior coaching fold. Mark Williams Richmond development coach Been off the radar for a little while but ``Choco" has the runs on the board, winning a premiership at Port Adelaide. Like Malcolm Blight, Williams probably thinks differently to most. Brett Ratten Hawthorn midfield coach Failed to get Carlton to a top-four spot in six years there. Not a sexy choice but he has experience rebuilding a rabble into a finals team. Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson new assistant coach Brett Ratten last night. Paul Roos Sydney academy coach/media Sits head and shoulders above the rest as the Dees' preferred candidate. But would he want the gig? Unlikely. Gold Coast would appeal more, if it became available. Kevin Sheedy Greater Western Sydney coach It's a long shot, given Melbourne interim chief executive Peter Jackson was at the helm when Sheedy left Essendon. But if anyone can sell Melbourne, it is Sheedy. Would have to partner a younger coach in a shared arrangement. Scott Burns West Coast midfield coach Had an interest in the Melbourne gig when Dean Bailey was sacked. Has earned high praise at the Eagles. Adam Simpson Hawthorn stoppage coach Of the younger coaches, Simpson is seen as the next cab off the rank. Ran a close second to Leon Cameron for the Greater Western Sydney senior assistant job last year. Peter Sumich Fremantle senior assistant coach Bit of a dark horse who has done his chances no harm learning from Ross Lyon for the past 18 months. Before that spent 10 years at West Coast. Alan Richardson Port Adelaide senior assistant coach Experienced operator deserves credit for helping reshape Port Adelaide. Highly rated for his development of younger players. Not a big name but ticks a lot of boxes. Port Adelaide stand-in coach Alan Richardson talks to forward Jay Schulz before the match against North Melbourne. Picture: Michael Dodge.