Bulls, coach part company with two rounds left in Peninsula league season

KARINGAL assistant coach Leigh Poholke will steer the Bulls in the last two rounds after the club parted company with Michael Triep.

Michael Triep addresses the Karingal players during the Bulls’ Round 8 win over Mornington. Picture: Chris Eastman

KARINGAL has parted ways with coach Michael Triep with two games to go in the season.

In a statement released this morning, Karingal president Daniel Watts said the club accepted Triep’s resignation on Tuesday.

“It has been a tough 24 hours for all involved including last night informing all the playing group and now our supporters also,’’ Watts said.

It’s understood a “disconnect’’ between Triep and some players was a factor in the decision.

“Mike felt that he couldn’t continue to work with the current senior playing group,’’ Watts said.

Assistant coach Leigh Poholke will be interim coach for the last two rounds, starting with a home game against Edi-Asp on Saturday.

“It goes without saying that this isn’t an ideal situation for the club and we must now endeavour to find the best candidate moving forward to lead our club,’’ Watts said.

Triep was appointed Karingal senior coach less than 12 months ago, taking on a side that went winless in the 2015 season.

Having previously coached Karingal’s junior and Under 19 sides, he was dubbed the ideal person to foster and develop a young Bulls list for the next five or 10 years.

Karingal started the 2016 season promisingly and by midway was in contention for a finals berth. But the Bulls have lost seven of their past eight games to drop to second bottom. On Saturday, Karingal was held to the lowest score of the season, 22 points, as it lost to Seaford by 72 points.