Simon Black's US college-style coaching academies have been plunged into crisis following the collapse of Careers Australia, the registered training organisation linked with Carlton's sponsorship black hole of more than $1million.
The Brisbane Brownlow medallist, who quit his assistant coaching job with the Lions late last year to focus on expanding his education and training football programs, is understood to be seeking alternative backers to save the academies created in his name.
Employees around the country, including former AFL players Xavier Ellis, Clinton Young and David Wojcinski, who joined the academy program late last year as it expanded into Victoria with bases in Melbourne and Geelong, were told last Friday that the program was closing down.
Tasmanian Football League coaches Tom Couch and Aaron Cornelius have also lost their jobs after joining the Tasmanian academy when it was established last July.
The one-year, full-time program, which involved elite football coaching and a business course, also has bases in Queensland and Western Australia.
Black told Fairfax Media he was still clarifying his position and would comment on the future of the academies in the coming days.
The three-time Brisbane premiership champion is still working at the club one day a week and also works as a football commentator for Triple M at Queensland-based games.
Careers Australia, which has been placed under voluntary administration, was a major client of Carlton's co-major sponsor Career One, which has failed to meet its contractual agreement with the Blues, reneging on the third year of its three-year contract estimated at $4.5 million.
Career One is chaired by former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou and comes under the umbrella of the insolvent Acquire Learning.
The Blues, having received none of their periodic payments from Career One, stripped the sponsor from their guernseys in round nine and on Sunday announced an expanded partnership with Virgin.
However, the new Virgin agreement will cover only a small portion of Carlton's projected major sponsorship revenue with Career One, and the Blues retain some hope that the organisation will ultimately meet its obligations.