EFL 2019: Steve Cochrane recommits to Wantirna South for 2020
Wantirna South only avoided relegation by a few centimetres this year, but coach Steve Cochrane will be hoping to take the Devils back up the EFL Division 1 ladder in 2020 after re-signing for a second season.
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The width of the goalpost.
That proved to be the saving grace in Wantirna South’s bid to avoid relegation to EFL Division 2.
And the Devils will be hoping Steve Cochrane can take them back up the Division 1 ladder next year after the respected mentor recommitted to the role a second season.
Wantirna South has confirmed Cochrane will remain at the club in 2020.
The Devils finished two premiership points clear of the drop zone ahead of Knox.
Great news for the Devils - Steve Cochrane is committed to continuing as Senior coach of the Devils for season 2020. Steve's experience, leadership and care of the players is outstanding, and the club was very keen for him to continue next season. Go Devils ! @footyefl pic.twitter.com/58NkA7ds5p
— Wantirna South F.C (@WSDEVILS) August 15, 2019
The draw in Round 5 when Mooroolbark’s Paul Thatcher hit the post after the siren proved to be the difference in the relegation fight.
Knox had a superior percentage than Wantirna South, meaning the Devils would have been demoted without the draw.
“I think the goalpost saved us from relegation,” Wantirna South president Steve Draper said.
“If it had have gone through, which it was going through off the boot but the Wanny South wind pushed it away and it faded and hit the post.
“If that had have gone through, that’s it, we were gone.”
Wantirna South won its first three games but finished with a 6-11-1 record to miss finals for a third consecutive season.
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“You could easily say, ‘Crikey, you win two or three more games and you’re shaking it up in September’,” Draper said.
“It’s not like we’re miles off it but we’ve got to get our underbelly a bit stronger.
“Our junior club didn’t have under-17s for a few years and that’s hurting us now.
“There’s a bit of a gap in our age groups — we’ve got a lot of young blokes and a number of experienced blokes.
“Steve now knows what’s missing, in terms of the age group and we think we can provide opportunities to players who may not be cutting it in the firsts in Premier Division but would be senior players for us.”
Draper said Cochrane had a good handle on what was required to deliver success.
“He’s done a lot of work in establishing new standards and relationships with players,” he said.
“He knows the opposition now, he knows us better now — our people and what resources are available to him.
“We wanted him to continue and he wasn’t hesitating, he was just making sure we had all the things in place to be able to improve next year.”
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