Kyneton looking for a new coach, Nathan Thompson set for off-field role
A review of Kyneton’s football department has seen it open up the senior coaching job to applicants with outgoing coach Nathan Thompson set to take on a key off-field role in 2021.
Local Footy
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Kyneton hopes to have a new senior coach installed in the next fortnight.
After a review of the Tigers’ football department, it was decided Nathan Thompson coaching the senior side and under-18s wasn’t in the best interests of the club.
Thompson will continue to be involved in the under-18s and is set to take on an off-field management role in 2021.
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Applications for the Bendigo Football League club’s top job close on Friday and president Julie Priestley said there had been strong interest.
“We’ve had quite a few quality applicants come in already,” she said.
“There’s a lot of talented people up here in the country, a few have put up their hand already, which is really promising for us.
“After the review of our football department, we decided – with Nathan’s input as well – the best way forward for Kyneton Football Club was to appoint a new senior coach.
“Nathan is still going to be involved in the under-18s and he’s also looking at a more off-field position to align the committee and football department.”
While the coaching search is underway, Thompson, a North Melbourne and Hawthorn star in 179 games, has been helping re-sign the Tigers playing list.
“He’s overseeing all of that and starting to look down the track with recruitment,” Priestly said.
“Once we appoint a new coach that will go hand-in-hand, so that’s another reason we want to get someone in sooner rather than later.”
The club is also looking for a new senior women’s coach with applications for the job closing on October 15.
For the past two years Kyneton has been battling to reduce its debt.
After a highly successful club raffle the club has balanced the books and is now looking to give back to the community that supported it.
The Tigers have set up a community fund that aims to help organisations and charities in the area remain viable now and into the future.
“A lot of hard work went into it and we’ve been able to repay all the old debt and we’ve just got a very small loan left,” Priestley said.
“It’s been an amazing year given we haven’t been able to kick a football around or throw a netball.
“We took 10 per cent of the profits from our raffle and put them into a community fund and we’re going to donate to different community organisations and charities.
“We’ve donated $2000 to the food bank here in Kyneton already.
“We’ve had our troubles over the years and the community has always rallied behind us, so we thought we’re in a position to give back.”