Go back and look at the contract thread @mobcat posted this past weekend. There is some pretty strong evidence that Bill has to renegotiate his deal, now, because his payment terms lapse at the end of the year. The buyout, specifically, ends in mid-January. I know that his contract "renews" every year, but we're headed for a renegotiation, if that topic hasn't already been broached.
I can see a situation where Bill is dug in and will use that contract gray area to push Sean. He'll happily step down, and not force a renegotiation, if we simply name Sean as the successor after the season. However, if we don't, Bill will call their bluff on firing him after the buyout date, and get new payment terms set on his contract, essentially setting a five year renewal and ensuring Sean and his staff still have a job at Kansas State for at least another several years.
However, this story gets released, Bill looks like he has devious motives counter to what KSU fans want, and now some of that leverage is dissipated. KSU is in a stronger position, and we basically tell Bill that we aren't negotiating, and based on public kickback to the released story we aren't hiring Sean without interviewing other candidates. We would like Bill to provide the necessary, contractually defined input on candidates that we should go after. We will promise to interview said candidates, including Sean. But we will not commit to hiring him.
This story flips the script a little bit. It chips away at Bill's security because he can't stand from some moral high ground over the administration. It doesn't completely eliminate his power, but it does some, and maybe just enough to push him to action, which is all we need.
Maybe it's more complex than that, but I think the timing of the contract is driving a lot of this action/discussion.
I can see a situation where Bill is dug in and will use that contract gray area to push Sean. He'll happily step down, and not force a renegotiation, if we simply name Sean as the successor after the season. However, if we don't, Bill will call their bluff on firing him after the buyout date, and get new payment terms set on his contract, essentially setting a five year renewal and ensuring Sean and his staff still have a job at Kansas State for at least another several years.
However, this story gets released, Bill looks like he has devious motives counter to what KSU fans want, and now some of that leverage is dissipated. KSU is in a stronger position, and we basically tell Bill that we aren't negotiating, and based on public kickback to the released story we aren't hiring Sean without interviewing other candidates. We would like Bill to provide the necessary, contractually defined input on candidates that we should go after. We will promise to interview said candidates, including Sean. But we will not commit to hiring him.
This story flips the script a little bit. It chips away at Bill's security because he can't stand from some moral high ground over the administration. It doesn't completely eliminate his power, but it does some, and maybe just enough to push him to action, which is all we need.
Maybe it's more complex than that, but I think the timing of the contract is driving a lot of this action/discussion.
