EDFL: Northern Saints appoint Peter Lohner as coach for 2020
Northern Saints have turned to an internal candidate as their next coach, appointing Peter Lohner, president Joe Antonetti saying the club stalwart was “by far the most knowledgeable football person at our club”.
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Northern Saints have made an internal appointment as they chase stability, promoting Peter Lohner to the top job.
Lohner will be the Saints’ fourth senior mentor in the past five years, but he has impressed in steering the club’s under-19s team and has more than a decade of coaching experience.
The stalwart replaces Brett Kennerley, who was sacked last month, at the helm of the EDFL Division 2 outfit.
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Saints president Joe Antonetti declared Lohner was “by far the most knowledgeable football person at our club”.
“He’s been overlooked a couple of times (for the senior coaching job) and we just felt it was time to go with someone from within the club,” Antonetti said.
“But not only that, they had to be the right person who embodied what we were after. Pete ticked every box.
“He’s all about building club culture and development and had a great relationship with his under-19s team, who have a tremendous amount of respect for him.
“He’s got two sides to grand finals in two years, and both with limited resources.”
Antonetti conceded the changes in the coaching ranks, which have led to the Saints attracting external criticism, had been “frustrating”.
But the club remains steadfast it has made the right call.
“Going for someone from within we think is more stable than anything,” Antonetti said.
“Pete knows the club better than anyone.”
Kennerley’s contract was terminated last month after he served one season of a two-year deal.
The Saints finished one game outside the top four after claiming the minor premiership in 2018.
The likes of Matthew Gray, Mousty Hammoud, Khodr Taleb, Nick Bruno and Matthew D’Angelo (who has crossed to Essendon Doutta Stars) had interrupted seasons because of injury and suspension.
“We said to Brett at the start that it was never about results,” Antonetti said.
“It was just getting our club culture back on track and getting respect from within the competition. That definitely happened.
“Having said that, we felt the list we put together was good enough to go a lot further.
“Ultimately, that wasn’t the reason we parted ways. It was other things.
“On field, not too disappointed with how things went.”
The Saints will look to lock away their existing players before turning attention to recruiting for 2020.
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