EDFL: Paul Guicas stands down as Keilor Park coach

An EDFL club has named its new coach after being forced into a late coaching switch but it has left another team from a neighbouring competition without a senior mentor.

Keilor Park has named its new coach. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Keilor Park has its new senior coach delivering an early Christmas present to its supporters.

The Devils have turned to 2001 premiership hero Leigh Coles as their new mentor replacing Paul Guicas who stood down earlier this month.

Coles had been working alongside Guicas earlier in the pre-season.

He has also played over 300 senior games for the Devils and was the coach when the club almost reached the B-Grade finals in 2011.

“He worked closely with Paul earlier this pre-season and has inherited a fantastic young playing group that has been built (and) nurtured by Paul,” a club statement said.

“Leigh will build from the outstanding platform Paul Guicas implemented over the past 4 years and there will be no limitations on what this group may achieve in 2024.

“He will oversee the highly touted coaching team with his senior assistant Colby Blyth signing on this week, which is very exciting for the Club going forward.”

Meanwhile Blyth’s appointment as his senior assistant has left WRFL club Sunshine Heights on the lookout for a new coach before Christmas.

Blyth had guided the Dragons for the past two season and advertised their coaching role on Thursday.

EARLIER

Paul Guicas arrived at Keilor Park as a possible saviour.

He now leaves as a club legend.

Appointed at the end of the 2019 season, Guicas had a massive rebuilding job on his hands with the Devils last on the EDFL Division 2 ladder without a win to their name.

Just 18 months earlier, Keilor Park had gone into recess and within several months of Guicas’ appointment Covid arrived.

Footy was on the backburner.

But he stuck fat, even through the Covid interrupted season of 2021 when the Devils won four out of 10 games before season was ended prematurely.

In 2022, the Guicas’ men went onto win the Division 2 premiership in dominant fashion against Oak Park to earn promotion.

A year later they maintained their Division 1 status.

On Friday, he confirmed his departure from the role describing it as one of the “hardest decisions”

“To my Keilor Park family, I would like to thank you for the past (four) years, and for giving me the opportunity to coach this great club,” he wrote.

“The decision to step down as senior coach has been one of the hardest decisions I have had to make in my entire life, but it was super important that I did.

Paul Guicas. Picture: Hamish Blair

“I love the club, the people who work tirelessly each and every day in order to keep this club going, and most of all each and every player that has put on the orange and green jumper with pride.

“What a journey we have had, rejuvenating the whole football program, sticking together through Covid, and reaching the ultimate goal a Senior Premiership.

“We may fight above our weight, but we have proven to the entire EDFL community that having a great culture, working hard and truly caring for one another creates success

“And to all the people that believed in me, a big thank you.”

As the news began to spread, players, supporters and club members were quick to offer their congratulations.

“Premiership coach who put the club back on the map. Was a pleasure working with you bud,” premiership star Robbie Castello said.

John Mangos said: “Congratulations Paul on everything you have done for Keilor Park Football Club, I know it was a tough start for you once you took over, but you got them the success that the club needed. You should be proud of every achievement.”

While Daniel Mifsud declared “build the man a statue”.