Some actual quotes from Carmichael today (smh.com.au). (A special, enclosed new world has now been built at Ballymore, and much there has a different, altered meaning to that my fellow posters you and I know as our reality.)
Reds chief executive Jim Carmichael said he understood it may not be a popular decision but after evaluating more than 20 applicants, he believed Graham deserved another chance under a new system designed to lessen his load and allow him to focus solely on rugby.
"Of course there is going to be expectation from the fan that looks from a passionate position and wants to see their team do well. They would think 'why don't you just move the coach' without understanding all of the complexities," Carmichael said.
"What we will be measured on next year is winning football games and having sustained success. What I know is fans, during the course of the next number of months, will still love their team.
"To make a decision that simply appeases them, for a moment in time, for us as an organisation is a weakness of our process. We need to deal with the fact that we've made a decision that will be seen by some as unpopular. We need them to feel we've made the right decision and that won't happen overnight."
Carmichael conceded the one-year deal would put immense pressure on Graham to turn around the fortunes of the 2011 Super Rugby champions.
"The one-year ... the frank truth is ... we need to be sure we've got it right. What it does also is put him under enormous pressure to win football games each weekend.
"That requires him to build relationships and the leadership and maturity of his list. Previously, he had far too many responsibilities. That's the reason for the one-year deal."
Carmichael also said he believed Graham had a sound working relationship with the playing group despite constant rumours of unease during the season. He admitted there were some issues on the way but has backed him moving forward.
"We interviewed players, we interviewed coaches, administration, to get a personal sense of how people saw it. There were clearly some conflicts of personality along the way that we genuinely believed were circumstantial," Carmichael said.
"Since that time, we've worked with the group and I am absolutely convinced that what has come out is a brutal assessment by Richard and what he could have better. I am convinced there is a relationship there ... player and coach ... that is going to be enduring."