THE Kangaroos are bracing themselves for a fight. And we are not talking about this weekend's battle against the Western Bulldogs for a top-four position, nor the true test Dean Laidley and his players will face in the finals.

Clearly the club is moving into crisis management mode given that it is certain to announce at the end of the season that it cannot sustain a long-term future in Melbourne without AFL support.

We believe it will ultimately decide to relocate to the Gold Coast. Chairman Graham Duff has told The Age that move could prove more complicated and prolonged than the AFL is saying, but move it will and announce the move it must before the end of the year or the AFL Commission will step in and make the decision instead.

The board must hold firm but divisions have emerged before. Senior officials at the club are not guaranteed long-term futures and many supporters will rebel. Not to mention antagonistic shareholders.

Just where does all this leave Laidley, the one-time "junkyard dog" who looked headed for the coaching scrapheap at the start of the season but has ended it a revelation and a club hero? Still unsigned, refusing to apply for the Melbourne or Essendon job in the belief he will receive a new deal from the club, Laidley has achieved extraordinary results this season under trying circumstances.

He has almost been a stabilising influence at a club that entered the season looking remarkably shaky. But on Tuesday night he delivered a serious challenge to the board, which yesterday discussed the circumstances of his new deal.

Laidley gave an extraordinarily outspoken interview for a coach on the eve of the finals, challenging his club to prove its commitment to a premiership and suggesting not all the boxes had been ticked for him to recommit. Laidley's interview certainly raised eyebrows among some directors.

The coach on Sunday held talks with Kangaroos directors Ron Joseph and Mark Brayshaw, along with chief executive Rick Aylett. He left feeling good, knowing that a recommendation would yesterday be put to the board to re-sign him and that he would be getting a significant pay rise. The coach also departed that meeting believing the club was committed to investing greater resources in his football department and in the long-term was determined to continue to increase total player payments.

Something must have happened between Sunday and Tuesday for Laidley to so publicly challenge the board. Perhaps he learnt that the money he hoped would be made available for next season would not.

While Laidley still does not know for sure the details surrounding the potential relocation, our understanding is that a significant number of the Kangaroos' playing and coaching staff would welcome the move. And why not? Guaranteed untold AFL assistance, ultimately vastly improved facilities, a warmer climate and — potentially — draft concessions.

We do not believe it was the Gold Coast issue that caused Laidley to question his club's commitment. Nor do we believe it was his new contract or any issue he might have with the money or length of tenure on offer.

If Laidley doubts his board, his doubts then must lie in the resources he wants moving forward. The sooner the Kangaroos settle their destiny, the better for everyone. Certainly for the coach who gave the clear impression two nights ago that he has become tired of doing his job with one hand tied behind his back.