Former Tullamarine coach Ash Manning takes the reins at RDFL club Lancefield

NEW Lancefield coach Ash Manning is confident finals football is on the horizon for the Tigers as they begin to look towards season 2015 in the Riddell District Football League.

EDFL Division 1 grand final: Tullamarine V West Coburg

NEW Lancefield coach Ash Manning is confident finals football is on the horizon for the Tigers as they look ­towards next season.

Manning last week put pen to paper with the club after a tumultuous six weeks for the experienced coach, in which he was sacked from Essendon District Football League club Tullamarine despite taking the side to the Division 1 grand final and having already signed on with the Demons for 2015.

The sacking came after a Tullamarine sponsor ­reportedly threatened to pull his money out of the club, unhappy with a “negative” three-quarter time address from Manning to his players in the grand final.

Manning described the whole situation as “absolutely ridiculous” but said he was excited to take on a new challenge in a new league with Lancefield.

“I don’t really know the (Riddell District Football League) that well,” he said.

“A mate of mine coaches Riddell Football Club, Troy Scoble. I rang him up before I applied for the Lancefield job and just asked him about the league and about Lancefield footy club.

“He seemed to think it was a pretty good club and it was worth going for so I rang up the footy club and they invited me up for a chat.

“I really love coaching. It’s got its pitfalls obviously. I’ll be honest, it was a bit of a kick in the teeth what happened at Tullamarine.

“I’m pretty disappointed but you move on and now I’ve got a new challenge at Lancefield with a bunch of guys I don’t really know.

“Hopefully we can pick up a player or two and improve and push into the finals.”

The Tigers finished seventh on the RDFL ladder this year, missing finals by just one game and percentage under departed coach Shaun Tobis.

Manning said the fact the club was not far away from finals was part of his attraction to the new role.

“I spoke to a couple of other clubs as well in other leagues that were probably a bit further down the ladder,” he said. “I thought even though Lancefield finished seventh, which is a fair way from first, it’s something to work with.”