Tweed United coach Dean Milosevic vows to lead Marlins out of Premier League cellar

TWEED United coach Dean Milosevic has opened up about his long-term future with the Marlins as they fight to climb out of the Premier League cellar.

TWEED United coach Dean Milosevic has pledged his long-term commitment to the struggling Marlins, adamant they can overcome their horror Premier League start.

Handed the coaching reins this season following the departure of Jason Buchanan, Milosevic has endured a baptism of fire with five losses in six games, including 8-1 and 10-1 defeats against Surfers Paradise and Burleigh Heads respectively.

A title-winning coach at Murwillumbah in 2013, Milosevic has at times seemed lost for answers during the nightmare run, but said he had no plans to step aside from the side’s relegation scrap.

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“I’m definitely there for the long haul. I’m not one to walk away from a challenge,” the 57-year-old said.

“I’m enjoying (coaching) again. Tweed was always going to be a big challenge for me. It’s just getting the players to enjoy it.

Tweed United’s 10-1 loss to Burleigh Heads in Round 4. Picture: Richard Gosling

“There’s some good young lads coming through but they need to go through the system. You can get a good 20 minutes out of them but not 90 minutes.

“If you haven’t got the players and money and facilities it’s hard. We’ve lost a couple of players (Jayden Scutt and Japanese import Toshiki Hatada) due to injuries and other things, and just some niggling injuries at key times.

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“Every week I’m changing four or five players and that has been the major problem. If you haven’t got that steady flow it’s going to fall apart.

“(The losses) is not what Premier League football is all about, you should be competing. If I can secure a couple of players at this stage of the season – there might be guys not happy at other clubs – then I will look at it.”

Tweed coach Dean Milosevic.

Bound for a 10-day holiday in Bali on Sunday, Milosevic will oversee Saturday’s 3pm home battle with Nerang before assistant coach Dave Lonie takes charge against Broadbeach United in Round 8.

Desperate to bounce back from a last-start 2-0 loss to Mudgeeraba that sent the Marlins to the bottom of the ladder, Milosevic said he expected improvement against the Eagles.

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“We should be a lot better this weekend, we have got a good team,” he said.

“Training has always been good. I’ve been pretty happy with what we have been doing there. It’s a learning curve.”

ROUND 7 FIXTURES

■ Wednesday – Palm Beach 2 (Mussell, Ichihara) def. Broadbeach United 1 (Miner) at Duncan McKenna Field

■ Saturday 3pm – Tweed United vs. Nerang at Arkinstall Park

■ Saturday 5pm – Surfers Paradise vs. Coomera at Lex Bell Oval

■ Saturday 7pm – Mudgeeraba vs. Burleigh Heads at Sid Bigg Park