EFNL 2024: Upper Ferntree Gully parts ways with coach Mark Fisher

The Eastern league Division 3 outfit has joined a raft of clubs in the hunt for a new coach following its shock split with mentor Mark Fisher.

Mark Fisher and Upper Gully have parted ways. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Upper Ferntree Gully has split with its coach.

The Eastern Division 3 club last week parted ways with second-year mentor Mark Fisher following its three-point loss to Oakleigh District.

The club confirmed Fisher’s shock exit in a statement on Friday, declaring the “choice was not made lightly but took into account a range of considerations”.

Former player and defensive line coach Liam Gellie has stepped into the caretaker role for the rest of the season.

Upper Ferntree Gully president Craig Bridle told this masthead the committee met during the week and determined a “change of direction” was needed.

The club was relegated from Division 2 at the end of last season after finishing at the foot of the table with just one win – its second demotion in two years.

It currently sits eighth of Division 3’s 10 teams with a 5-11 record.

“It’s complex,” Bridle said of the decision.

“‘Fish’ (Mark Fisher) was as good a coach as I’ve seen at local level – I think all of us in our hearts would’ve loved to have him continue. He probably just didn’t have the cattle, and from the first meeting we spoke about where the list was at.

“It wasn’t a poor list, but we may have oversold where we were at as a footy club.

“The selection panel were all passionate past-players or committee, who had this desire to bounce back.

“The reality is, it’s so much harder than you think … some of the considerations to take in were where are we at as a club (and) where are we at as a group?”

EFNL 2024: Upper Gully's coaching statement as published on Facebook.

Bridle “categorically” denied rumours of a rift between the players and the coach, adding it “certainly wasn’t a results-driven conversation”.

“There certainly wasn’t a crisis meeting, it wasn’t to do with players ousting (the coach) – it came as a shock to many of the group that we had made the decision,” he said.

“While there were a number (of players) disappointed, once we explained the decision, they understood.

“We would never allow the tail to wag the dog.”

Bridle added: “‘Fish’ always said to us that senior coaches are a big investment for a football club, and if it’s not working, it’s not worth continuing the investment.

“He was always upfront and honest, and that’s what I loved about him – you just knew where you stood.

“There’s certainly no doubt when he came into our club, he really straightened us up with structure and discipline.”

Fisher, who was appointed in September 2022 following a four-year stint with Mt Evelyn, said he understood the club’s decision.

“The club has chosen to pursue another coach going forward,” he said in a statement.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Upper Gully. (They’re) great, passionate people that care and support the club.

“I 100 per cent understand the club’s decision and have no problems with the path they are taking.”

Upper Ferntree Gully joins a raft of Eastern clubs on the hunt for a new coach.

“We surround ourselves with The Basin, Ferntree Gully and Fairpark who are all looking for new coaches,” Bridle said.

“It may be a cop-out, but we felt we (also) wanted to do the right thing by ‘Fish’, knowing he was a wanted man when we appointed him and that would continue throughout his tenure.

“We thought it (the decision) allowed him to take three weeks off footy to assess what he wanted to do next year.”

Bridle declared there were “no hard feelings” between the parties.

“All parties understood it was a change of direction for the footy club … but from a personal perspective, he (Fisher) was great for our footy club and I’ll be forever grateful for the two years he spent with us,” he said.