Midfielder Jarrod King takes the throne at Northern Football League club Lalor

LALOR has handed its coaching reins to midfielder Jarrod King as it looks to rebound from a “year from hell” in the Northern Football League.

Jarrod King has been promoted to the senior coaching role at Lalor. Picture: David Smith.

LALOR has handed its coaching reins to midfielder Jarrod King as it looks to rebound from a “year from hell” in the Northern Football League.

King has served as an assistant coach under Steve Marshall, who will retain a role in the club’s football department, for the past three years.

Bloods president Rod Lowry said the club was confident King would turn around their fortunes after the 2015 runner-up tumbled to seventh on the Division 2 ladder this year.

“We’re going to do better than we did this year just gone which was a nightmare,” Lowry said.

“He’s had plenty of experience, a couple of great years under Stevey Marshall.

“He will be a playing coach, I don’t think there’s many playing coaches around these days.

“He’s in his prime ... he’s got some great experience.”

Lowry said the club had been in discussions with potential recruits for the past two weeks and hoped to announce five signings soon.

“We have already started recruiting, we started two weeks ago,” Lowry said.

“We have got about half a dozen players we are doing interviews with.

“We will be ready to rock and roll next year, no doubt about it.”

The Bloods hope to retain most of their playing list from this year, with best-and-fairest winner Shane Jacobs among those who have already signed on.

“We can certainly only improve coming from where we’ve come,” Lowry said.

“We had a year from hell.”

Ruckman Jason Kelly will return to Lalor in 2017 after a season with South Morang, while defender Scott Morrison is also set to make his playing comeback from a serious shoulder injury.

King has played 54 games for Lalor over the past three years after crossing from North Heidelberg.

He also spent a season with Epping in 2011.