Six-time premiership coach Trent Mills resigns from Goodwood after being told he will not be coaching next year

HE coached the side to six Amateur League premierships in a tick over a decade. But the club has denied him the right to go out on his own terms and now he has left the powerhouse on the eve of finals.

OUT THE DOOR: Goodwood coach Trent Mills addresses his players against Salisbury North. Mills has resigned on the eve of the finals after being told by the committee he would not be coaching next season. Picture: Tom Huntley.

AMATEUR League powerhouse Goodwood Saints have lost their six-time premiership coach Trent Mills on the eve of the finals.

Mills stunned the players in the rooms after Saturday’s win over Adelaide Uni when he revealed he had resigned immediately after being told by the club’s committee during the week that he would not be coaching next year.

Mills is a legend of the football club having taken over as coach in 2006 and guided the Saints to division one premierships in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014 and 2015. He also played in the 2005 flag under Trevor Hill after managing 211 SANFL games at South Adelaide.

Goodwood is currently fifth on the ladder with three games to go and expected to play finals but will have an interim coach after Mills decided he couldn’t continue without the long-term backing of the club.

“I didn’t really have a decision,” Mills told The Advertiser.

“To be advertising for a senior coach while I’m still coaching and with the potential of what we can do for the rest of the year, I just couldn’t see how it could work.

“It’s been a rollercoaster for three or four days, I’ve spent 36 years at two football clubs — South Adelaide and Goodwood — my kids play at Goodwood, my wife supports me here, and my emotions have ranged from anger to disappointment.

“I don’t coach for accolades or to be patted on the back or to be given a send-off, I do it for the playing group and for the personal side of it.

Mills celebrating the 2009 premiership with captain David Bartel.

“And my biggest disappointment is not being able to thank the people in the club forum who have supported me the whole time, and that I’m walking away from a playing group that I love.

“The last three weeks we’ve been back to our best form, we’re potentially heading into another finals series and have won premierships from fourth and fifth before.

“I’m sure there are six other clubs thinking the same thing but this decision put me in a really difficult situation.”

The position of Goodwood senior coach will be advertised for the first time in 18 years this Sunday and players will be told of their interim coach at training on Tuesday night.

Club president Craig Scott said the committee had decided it was “time for a new direction” and told Mills of their decision at a meeting last Thursday.

SAINTS COACH MILLS REFLECTS ON SIX FLAGS IN A DECADE

But it is understood that some of the committee, which includes players, was blindsided by the move.

“Trent has been amazing and done everything he could possibly do for the club,” Scott said.

“But as a club we decided we needed to look for someone else and we didn’t want to do it behind his back.”

Scott said the team was “playing good footy” but wouldn’t go into detail on why the committee decided it needed a new coach next year.

“I can’t answer that and it would be disrespectful to Trent.

“We thought it was time.”

That was on Thursday and the club planned to tell the playing group of its decision this Thursday but that backfired on the weekend when Mills resigned.

“Clearly we wanted to send him out with a bang because of what he has done for the club. Would I do things differently? I don’t know.

Trent Mills after the 2008 premiership. Picture: Chris Walls.

“Do you wait until the end of the season and if you do you’ve definitely missed out on some people.

“Or do you go looking and tell him at the end of the season?

“We took the option of being upfront but we didn’t expect this.”

Scott said he was “devastated” at how things had turned out.

“Personally I’m devastated, I’m great mates with Millsy and I’m trying to do what’s best for the club.

“It’s not gone the way we wanted.

“The players went to Millsy’s place on Saturday night and they’re all committed (to the rest of the season).

“There are some who get it and quite a few who say ‘why didn’t you wait until the end of the year’.

“But we’re wanting what’s best for the club and we needed to start now.”

Mills said he would most likely keep his distance from the club for the rest of the year but his kids would keep playing. And he hasn’t ruled out coaching elsewhere next season.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s AFL, SANFL or amateur level, there are opinions in football and when there’s a differing of opinion with the coach you end up with these situations,” Mills said.

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