Gold Coast United in no rush to replace former NPL Women’s coach Michael Cook

GOLD Coast United are in no rush to replace former NPL Women’s mentor Michael Cook as they look to extend their unbeaten run under interim co-coaches Craig Midgley and Alex Bundalo tonight.

GOLD Coast United are in no rush to replace former NPL Women’s mentor Michael Cook as they look to extend their unbeaten run under interim co-coaches Craig Midgley and Alex Bundalo tonight.

With the Surfsiders struggling for consistency during their first 10 games of the season, Cook last month agreed to relinquish the NPLW coaching role he had held for the past 18 months.

However, he has stayed on as coach of the under-15 girls’ outfit, which sits 10th on the 14-team ladder.

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A double winner with Peninsula Power in the 2017 NPLW, Cook steered United to sixth place last season but the task of guiding this year’s finals mission has now been handed to technical director Midgley and under-13 boys’ coach Bundalo.

The pair are unbeaten in their four games in charge, picking up draws against Lions and Easts before back-to-back wins over Brisbane Roar and Sunshine Coast.

Former Gold Coast United coach Michael Cook with NPL Women's player Nadine Keast. Picture: Gold Coast United

Speaking ahead of tonight’s catch-up fixture away to Mitchelton, Midgley insisted there was no bad blood between the club and Cook.

“We both agreed that it was just in the best interests of the club (for Michael) to move on from the women. He’s doing the under-15 girls still but at that (NPLW) level we just thought we needed a bit of a change,” Midgley, whose side will move to fifth with a win tonight, said.

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“It hasn’t finished badly. We just sat down and with a few internal things, for both parties it was the right decision to move on and change it.

“It wasn’t like we were having a dreadful season but we do want to build the women’s program into something special. The women’s part of our club is crucial to our long-term vision.”

United technical director Craig Midgley. Picture: Justin Brierty

Midgley said with the side starting to hit stride, he and Bundalo could yet stay on until the end of the season.

“It’s not ideal to run a side - it takes me away from a lot of players at the club – (but) I’m quite enjoying it there,” he said.

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“The girls have responded really well to what we’re wanting from them, we’re on a good little run. We’re not advertising for (the job). There’s no rush to change it.

“Long term, there needs to be somebody in there but we can manage until the end of the season if need be. We will just see. People pop up.”

Kick off tonight is at 7.30pm at Mitchelton’s Teralba Park.