Midfield general Rhett Jordon to coach West Preston-Lakeside for rest of 2016 after Leigh Cole’s departure
WEST Preston-Lakeside remains optimistic about its Northern Football League finals chances despite parting ways with coach Leigh Cole with five rounds remaining in the campaign.
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WEST Preston-Lakeside remains optimistic about its Northern Football League finals chances despite parting ways with coach Leigh Cole with five rounds remaining in the campaign.
Playing assistant coach Rhett Jordon stepped into the top job for the first time on Saturday for the Roosters’ clash with Macleod.
The midfield general will hold the senior coaching post until at least the end of 2016, with Matt Sleeman to serve as his assistant.
West Preston slipped one game outside the top five after a 7.13 (55) to 4.4 (28) defeat against Macleod at DeWinton Park on Saturday.
President Paul McInerney said despite the upheaval, the club was hopeful of challenging for a finals berth in Division 1.
“We’re still in a good position to make finals,” McInerney said.
Cole met with the Roosters last Tuesday, where it was decided they would part ways.
He finished with a 12-19 win-loss record from 31 games at the helm, amounting to a 38.7 per cent winning record.
“It’s a hard time to part ways at any time of the year really,” McInerney said.
McInerney said there was no animosity between the club and its former coach, who was in his second year at J.E Moore Park.
He said the club was yet to decide whether it would prefer a playing or non-playing coach for 2017.
“The coach for next year at this point hasn’t even been discussed at all,” he said.
“We felt it was a good combination that Rhett takes over the coaching role for the rest of the year with Matt as his assistant.”
The Roosters’ finals fate will be determined by games against Whittlesea, Montmorency, Bundoora and Eltham over the next four weeks.
West Preston’s matches against Montmorency (fifth) and Eltham (sixth) will be pivotal to its chances of claiming fifth spot and earning a finals berth.
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