WEST Coast chairman Mark Barnaba believes re-signed coach John Worsfold is the man to get the Eagles back into the finals by 2011 and into premiership contention thereafter.
A delighted Barnaba announced Worsfold's two-year contract extension on Friday afternoon, adding that the two-year term had been mutually agreed upon.
The chairman said West Coast had considered other options, but Worsfold's record in his seven completed seasons in charge made him the right man.
Worsfold has led West Coast to six finals series, including two grand finals and a premiership, in his seven completed seasons and has stated his aim to return the club to September football in 2011.
"We certainly back that, I think John's record over the long-term means that we should back that," Barnaba said from Subiaco Oval.
"There is a belief by the board that the rebuilding that John's already commenced is going to continue.
"He deserves to be backed and we feel very confident about where we’re going."
Worsfold put pen to paper on Friday morning after receiving the club's offer last Thursday.
The coach said he didn't get everything he wanted in his new deal, but both the coach and Barnaba agreed the two-year tenure was ideal.
"We had talked about other options but at the end of the day it was John as much as the club that was actually comfortable with two years, which I think is a real vote of confidence by John in what he thinks he can achieve in that period," Barnaba said.
Last season was the Eagles' worst on record, the club finishing 15th, ahead of Melbourne, with four wins from 22 games.
Barnaba said the side had shown improvement in the first 12 rounds this season, despite sitting 13th with a 3-9 record, and mid-season was the perfect time to re-sign the premiership coach.
"There's no point waiting when you know you've got the right person," he said.
"There's a cycle in football. After six years in the finals – especially with extenuating circumstances last year – it's not unrealistic to expect that you're going to actually have to go through that cycle.
"I think there's been improvement this year."
With the help of a bolstered football department, most of which was on hand for Friday's announcement, Worsfold will set about developing a young side that is blessed with high draft picks.
Exciting youngsters including Nic Naitanui, Chris Masten, Tom Swift, Brad Ebert and Scott Selwood carry the club's hopes.
Barnaba wouldn't reveal any targets the board had set for Worsfold's next two-years in charge, but after a difficult year-and-a-half he said he expected the club to emerge with an "ultra-competitive" side.
"It puts a major decision behind us and for the next two-and-a-half years at least, it allows John and the football department, a somewhat new football department, to build on that," Barnaba said.
"We both believe that John being given the opportunity to mould the club over the next two years will mean that we really do end up with a team that will be ultra-competitive in the AFL."
