EFNL Premier Division 2024: Berwick coach Clint Evans to step down at season’s end

The Eastern league Premier Division coach has called time on his five-year stint. Here’s why.

Berwick coach Clint Evans will step down at season’s end. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Berwick senior coach Clint Evans declares the time is right.

The mentor of five years has confirmed he’ll be stepping down from his post at the end of the Eastern league Premier Division season.

Evans said he made a decision on his future after an initial chat with the club a month ago.

He said he “wanted to tell the club early” in order for it to begin its hunt for its next senior coach.

The players were informed on Tuesday night.

“Coming into this year, it was probably going to be my last year anyway,” Evans said.

“With where the club’s at, they need someone to come in to try and reinvigorate the list, because we’re so young.

“It might take two or three years, and if I’m not 100 per cent and my heart’s not in it, it’s just not the right thing (to continue as coach) and I want to do the right thing by the club.

“They’ve been unbelievable with the support I’ve had from the committee this year … there’s no animosity – I couldn’t be more proud with how they’ve handled it.”

Berwick sits ninth of the division’s 10 teams on the ladder with just one win from 12 starts, fielding a young side this season following the departure of a host of experienced names at the end of last year.

Berwick has won just one game this year. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

Evans, who guided Beaconsfield to a premiership in 2014, hasn’t ruled out coaching in the future – but declared his priority was keeping Berwick in Eastern’s top-flight, with the last-placed club to be relegated at season’s end.

The Wickers moved into the Eastern league from the Outer East competition in 2020.

“I’ve been doing this for nearly 17 years,” Evans said of his coaching career.

“I wouldn’t say I was burnt out – last year was hard, but this year’s been harder but for different reasons.

“But it’s probably been the most enjoyable as well putting so many games into these young kids and seeing how much they’ve learned.

“But you never say never (to coaching again).

“I want to try and keep the boys up in Premier, then relax for a bit.”

Evans said the job was an attractive prospect for the club’s next coach.

“Whoever takes it over, hopefully it’s in Premier, but even if it’s Division 1, it’s still really good footy, and they’re going to have the nucleus there already,” he said.

“They’re a ripper bunch of boys.”

Berwick hosts Doncaster East on Saturday as six home-and-away matches remain.