Amateur football club Henley parts ways with coach Kym Cobb
CELLAR-DWELLER Henley will finish the amateur league season with an interim coach after parting ways with Kym Cobb.
CELLAR-DWELLER Henley will finish the amateur league season with an interim coach after parting ways with Kym Cobb.
Last week, the Sharks told Cobb they would not be renewing his contract for next year but wanted him to stay in the role for the rest of the season.
Cobb, who was South Adelaide’s interim coach after Ron Fuller’s sacking in 2013 and also played 140 games for the Panthers, declined the offer.
Henley sits bottom of division one with a 1-12 record.
Sharks player Ryan Sampson will take the reins until the end of the season before the club appoints a successor in coming months.
Henley president Teresa Davoren said Cobb’s work ethic and passion were “unbelievable” but the club wanted to “look down a different path” as it prepared for relegation to division two.
“We just had to look at where we’re going to be next year (division two) and go back to a rebuilding situation,” Davoren said.
Cobb, who led Henley to a semi-final last season, was somewhat surprised at his dismissal.
“We’ve had one win for the year and we look like getting relegated so you know being the head coach your head’s on the chopping block,” Cobb said.
“But when you’ve got five of your best players sitting in the grandstand (injured) all year, virtually, the path that I took was to develop the young kids.
“It’s their decision but when you put in so much time and effort, it is a bit of a shock.
“They wanted me to stay on but I couldn’t see the benefit for everyone.”
Cobb was keen to remain in coaching.
“I think I’m a good coach ... and now it burns even more to prove a few people wrong.”