EFNL Division 4 2024: Forest Hill begins hunt for senior coach

The Zebras have hit the market in search for their next senior coach. The president explains why, and what the club is looking for.

Forest Hill coach Brad Tuite has decided not to reapply for the role. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Forest Hill has joined a swag of Eastern league clubs on the hunt for a senior coach.

Zebras president John Andrews said first-year mentor Brad Tuite had decided not to reapply for the role following the Division 4 club’s call to advertise the position.

“We had a chat about it and told him we were going to advertise, and he was pretty good about it. He understood. He’s decided not to apply for it,” Andrews said.

The club has also put the call out for a senior assistant and a development coach.

Forest Hill has won just three matches from 14 this season and sits second-last on the ladder.

It was dealt an exodus of players at the end of last year and has blooded up to 16 players from last season’s under-19s.

The club last won a senior premiership in 1984, and Andrews said the club must retain its emerging talent to set the foundation future success.

“I thought it was time that we had a look to see what’s out there at the moment,” Andrews said of the club’s decision to advertise for a coach.

“We’ve bottomed out this year which I don’t think is acceptable.

“We’ve lost a lot (of players), but are we going to bring them back in with what we’ve got at the moment, or do we need to find someone who can bring the players we need?”

“My main aim is to keep (the young players) there and put players around them who’ll allow them to not have so much pressure on them.”

Andrews said the Zebras would look to snare a playing-coach in a bid to develop the club’s youth for a premiership push.

“I’d like a very good playing-coach … I like the scenario where they can lead on-field and be supported by a very good non-playing assistant coach off-field,” he said.

Expressions of interest can be sent to [e-mail] by September 30.