Barry Mitchell steps down as Northcote Park coach
Northcote Park is looking for a third coach in the space of 12 months after Barry Mitchell decided not to re-commit for 2021, departing the club without coaching a game.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Northcote Park is on the lookout for a new coach after Barry Mitchell decided to step down without coaching a game.
The Cougars 1997 premiership star had signed on to lead the NFL Division 1 club in 2020 but informed it last week he would not go on in 2021.
It leaves the club searching for a third coach inside 12 months after Matt McLennan stepped down at the end of 2019.
DYNASTY: COUGARS’ FIGHT TO SEAL FOUR-PEAT
LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE
VACANT: LEADER’S LOCAL FOOTY COACHING BOARD
Northcote Park president Joe Amad said it was an amicable split.
“He’d been have a think about for a while,” he said.
“Without going into too much detail, for his own reasons he didn’t want to do it, and it’s good we know early so we can move on.”
Mitchell declined to comment when contacted by Leader.
The former Sydney and Carlton midfielder played one year at Bill Lawry Oval, collecting a premiership medal, league best-and-fairest and club best-and-fairest.
He coached Old Scotch to the VAFA Premier B grand final last year.
The Cougars top job will be highly sort after, especially if ex-AFL talents David Myers and Ben McNiece re-commit for next year.
Mitchell had also attracted the likes of Tom Baravi (West Coburg), Jackson Williams (Frankston Bombers), Oliver McEwan (Albury Tigers), Jack Sammartino (Preston Bullants) and Reed Jepson (Epping).
Amad said the club would take its time to find the right candidate.
“We’ll take our time and get the best coach,” he said.
“It’s a different time with COVID and money is different with the salary cap cuts.
“(We’ll have someone) within the next two to three weeks hopefully.
“We’ll put the net out wide and take our time to get the right fit.”
Northcote Park is the second NFL club on the lookout for a new coach after Laurimar and Justin Sherman parted ways last month.