Mick Searl steps down from full time role at Burras

Sebastopol’s coach to stand down at the end of the season. Find out the full reason why.

Sebastopol’s Mick Searl says work commitments for next year will prevent him from staying on as coach at the club.

Searl has announced he will step down as coach of the Burras at the end of the season after three years in the role in the Ballarat Football Netball League.

He told the club this week about his decision.

“I’ve taken a new job as head of a boys’ private school in Ballarat,” Searl revealed.

The Burras coach becomes the fourth Ballarat-based coach to leave the BNFL.

Last week East Point coach Jake Bridges announced he was leaving the 2019 premiers with Ballarat Swans coach Joe Carmody and Redan’s coach Jarrett Giampaolo also leaving.

Searl said with a wife and two young children and the new role taking some of his weekends and nights, he’s unable to fulfil the role to the best of his abilities.

“For the benefit of the group they need the stability of having someone at training every time,” he said.

“I can’t commit to it.”

Searl is hopeful of remaining at the club in a smaller role.

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“I’ve loved my time there and I would have loved to stay in my role,” he said.

“Hopefully the new coach would be happy to have me, I’d love to stay and run the lines or become an assistant.

“It’s a lesser role and less responsibility and if I’m away on the weekend they can manage well without me.”

Searl took over as coach at the end of the 2019 season.

He admits Covid has hampered potential success for him and the club.

Searl is hopeful premiership success this year can make up for it.

He praised the players for remaining with him during the past three seasons.