Voss’ appointment ends a tumultuous period of post-season chaos for the club,which recentlyparted ways with CEO Cain Liddle after an external review of the football department that also resulted in the departure of all assistant coaches bar one and David Teague being removed as senior coach.

Voss and the Blues will now look to bolster their stocks of assistants,with highly valued Geelong assistant and Voss’ premiership teammate Nigel Lappin high up on the club’s hit list. However,Lappin is expected to stay with the Cats with another former teammate,Chris Scott. Many assistants have already found their clubs for 2022 and beyond. Voss’ former teammate Luke Power,already head of development at Carlton,is one certain to be part of his panel.

Voss met Sayers on Wednesday but was not officially notified until Thursday,after the Carlton board convened and ratified the recommendation of the panel,which had been widely anticipated.

He grew up a Carlton supporter;his favourite players were Wayne Johnston and Ken Hunter. He was picked up by the then Bears as a local Queensland player and went on to establish himself as one of the game’s most inspirational and best players.

Voss coached the Lions from 2009 until 2013,when he was sacked late in the season in what was a messy end to his association with Brisbane. His supporters say he was unlucky to be removed and that the Lions hierarchy had believed they could lure Paul Roos to replace Voss when the decision was made. But Roos was not available and subsequently went to Melbourne from 2014-16.

Previously,the Blues had appeared likely to hire Ross Lyon,before the former St Kilda and Fremantle coachwithdrew from the process. Former Hawthorn coachAlastair Clarkson rejected Carlton’s advances. The Scott brothers,Chris and Brad,ruled themselves out,as did Sydney assistant and former Adelaide coach Don Pyke,who had a close connection with panel member and triple-premiership Blues coach David Parkin.

Voss said the speculation surrounding Lyon and Clarkson did not deter him from throwing his hat into the ring to win the job.

In a letter to members on Thursday,Sayers said the appointment of Voss marked a significant moment in the path forward for the football club.

“With Michael,we are getting someone who knows exactly what it takes to achieve high performance – which is consistently winning games of football,to provide the opportunity to compete in September and ultimately win premierships. He has experienced the ultimate triumph as a captain,he’s played a big role in driving success as an assistant coach and it’s where we want to get to at this football club.”

Voss said he was honoured to be afforded the opportunity to join Carlton and embrace a time of change at the club.

“It is truly a great honour to join a club as big and as proud as Carlton,and I take on this role with a great sense of pride and excitement for what’s to come.

“We all now have the ability to embrace this reset stage and look forward together. A united football club is a high-performing football club,and I want every Carlton member and supporter to know that myself,the staff and the players will leave no stone unturned to make that happen.”

Port Adelaide football manager Chris Davies wished Voss well in his new role.

“Michael has played an important role in our football department,always striving to develop and improve himself and our team.

“He has been a great support for Ken and our other coaches,a mentor for so many of our players and a key driver of the strong connection amongst our group.

“In recent years,he has been forthright about his desire to be a senior coach again and we are pleased that he is able to get that opportunity.”

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