Gold Coast United appoint former A-League defender Kristian Rees as new men’s NPL coach

GOLD Coast United have appointed their new men’s NPL coach, less than two weeks after announcing 2017 premiership-winning mentor Sean Lane would leave the club.

FORMER Gold Coast United A-League defender Kristian Rees will take the NPL coaching reins at the reborn club following the departure of premiership-winning mentor Sean Lane.

Rees, who spent three A-League seasons with United from 2009-12, was today announced as men’s senior coach for 2019, ending continued speculation after Lane was given his marching orders earlier this month.

The 38-year-old has been based on the Coast since joining United’s inaugural A-League squad, spending three years at Palm Beach/Gold Coast City before serving as assistant coach to Grae Piddick at the Gold Coast Knights this season.

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Gold Coast United’s Kristian Rees battles Sydney’s Mark Bridge in 2012. Picture: Gregg Porteous

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Rees said he would continue to push youth development at the club, a hallmark of their first season back on the Coast.

“I’ve been involved with football on the Gold Coast for almost 10 years now and I strongly believe there’s some really good youth talent on the Coast and that’s probably one area that I’ll really try and concentrate on, to build and develop those youth footballers on the Gold Coast,” the former Adelaide United hard nut said.

“I think the club in general is really positive. I think their views on football on the Gold Coast are fantastic with the way they want to embrace the local clubs and the local community and get them involved. They have a real positive feel from that side of things.

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Rees in action for Palm Beach in 2015. Picture: Mike Batterham

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“We’ve got what I believe to be one of the best TDs (technical directors) in the country in Craig Midgley, he’s done a fantastic job with the coaching staff that are there.

“From a senior team point of view and players’ point of view, I don’t know the culture that they had there (under Lane) but I’ll certainly be trying to bring in my culture and how I feel about football.

“I’d like to bring in some good people with a good work ethic and are looking to learn and become better players.”

Outgoing coach Sean Lane.