West Adelaide coach Andrew Collins on shortlist to replace Ron Fuller at South Adelaide
WEST Adelaide mentor Andrew Collins is officially on South Adelaide's coaching shortlist.
WEST Adelaide mentor Andrew Collins is officially on South Adelaide's coaching shortlist.
Panthers chief executive Evan Arnold said he would discuss the club's senior coaching vacancy in coming weeks with Collins, who last month announced he was stepping down from the Bloods role at the end of the season.
South sacked Ron Fuller with a year remaining on his five-year deal on August 27.
"Certainly I intend to make contact with Andrew," Arnold said.
"He's made his position well known.
"He'll be one of a number of candidates we intend to talk to but he's only one.
"At SANFL level I think it's important that you have potential candidates in mind and make sure you cast the net as broadly as possible to get the very best person."
Arnold would not name any other candidates but said the next coach was unlikely to receive a five-year deal.
Fuller led the Panthers to 23 wins from 81 games and one finals series, in 2011.
Arnold said the club wanted its next coach to have "a good understanding of modern-day coaching practices that are undertaken at AFL level" and be a leader.
"Ron did a fantastic job in instilling in our footy club a lot of really good things and we're grateful for his valuable contribution.
"But we just felt in order to get to where we needed to go - and we want to get there quickly - someone new with a different approach would be the right thing for the football club.
"We're looking forward to appointing someone who is going to take us to some sustainable success in coming years."
Arnold said the Panthers were finalising their coaching selection panel, which would include club officials, board members and "high calibre" independent football identities who he would not name.
He hoped to announce Fuller's replacement in mid-October.
Collins refused to comment on the vacant Panthers position to The Advertiser last week but would not rule out extending his stint in SA if offered a full-time position.