Appearing at North’s Arden Street headquarters on Friday,Clarkson said the approach from the Bombers came “far too late” for him to seriously consider it given how far down the road he was with North Melbourne.

He said he was grateful to the people who recruited him to the Kangaroos in the late ’80s at a difficult time in his life following the death of his brother.

“I needed some support in my life in that time. This club gave it to me. The shoe is on the other foot right now,perhaps this club needs some support,” Clarkson said.

Clarkson informed North president Sonja Hood of his decision on Thursday night after a conversation with his family.

He expressed sympathy forEssendon coach Rutten,whose job remains under threat,and described the Bombers’ situation as “unsavoury”.

“Really disappoints me what’s unfolded with ‘Truck’ out at the Bombers,” Clarkson said,adding that he had listened to the pitch from Essendon out of respect.

“I didn’t want to have ongoing discussions with the Bombers,to be fair … We were just so far down the track with North Melbourne and GWS[discussions],that whole process came far too late to give it serious consideration ... Due diligence takes a lot longer than four days,for me.“

Hood did not guarantee chief executive Ben Amarfio would be CEO in 2023,sidestepping the question after endorsing him on the day David Noble was sacked.

Clarkson’s decision was a massive blow for Essendon putting them under pressure from some quarters to consider Hird to return as coach in what would be a hugely contentious move,seven years after he departed amid the bitterness of the drugs scandal.Hird is working as an assistant coach to close friend Mark McVeigh at GWS.

Clarkson,a four-time premiership coach at Hawthorn,follows the path of his greatest influence,the late John Kennedy,in taking up the reins as North Melbourne’s senior coach after re-establishing the Hawks as a power.

A long-serving North Melbourne official described landing Clarkson as the biggest coup for the club “since landing Barassi” referring to the club securing legendary coach Ron Barassi from Carlton in 1973. Barassi led the club to their first flag in 1975.

“We are just wanting to get back to winning games of footy and winning some silverware,” Clarkson said. “The club needs a really,really clear vision and to roll the sleeves up and get to work.”

Clarkson,who took a year off from football after Hawthorn paid out his contract at the end of 2021 to allow Sam Mitchell to succeed him as coach,also spoke to the Giants before Essendon’s late bid.

Hood announced the signing to club members on Friday morning in a letter.

“I’m delighted to announce that last night Alastair Clarkson agreed to coach the North Melbourne Football Club for the next five seasons,” Hood said.

“Our former number 23,Shinboner #781,and four-time premiership coach will lead our talented,young group from 2023 until at least 2027.

“This is a real watershed moment for our club.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the professionalism of Alastair and his manager James Henderson over this past four weeks. We’ve had a crash course in getting to know each other and Alastair’s passion to drive our club back to where we belong is incredibly infectious.

“Alastair officially begins with us on November 1,and I’m looking forward to welcoming him,wife Caryn and children Stephanie,Georgia and Matthew,to the Shinboner family.”

North Melbourne great Corey McKernan said the appointment would give Roos fans “hope” despite the team sitting on the bottom of the ladder.

“To have someone like Alastair come and lead the football club,all the Kangaroos fans that really copped it this year can stand a bit taller and have a bit of a Wayne Carey-like swagger today,” he told 3AW.

“It’s really great to see him,in essence I suppose,come back to where he started.”

Outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said the AFL had remained at an arm’s length of the negotiations.

With Ashleigh McMillan

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