Dromana leadership group wants change so Doug Koop says it’s time to go

DOUG Koop isn’t bitter, just disappointed, after reluctantly deciding to step aside as Dromana coach amid a player-led push for change.

MPNFL Nepean footy game between Dromana and Crib Point played at Dromana Reserve. Tigers coach Doug Koop and his assistants standing on a scaffold structure while coaching.

DOUG Koop isn’t bitter, just disappointed, after reluctantly deciding to step aside as Dromana coach amid a player-led push for change.

Koop says his hand was forced after a group of senior Tigers players made it clear they wanted 2013 premiership captain Rikki Johnston to coach the club next year.

Johnston has played at Langwarrin for the past two seasons but speculation of his return to the Tigers den is strong.

“Effectively what’s happened is they (Dromana’s committee) have gone to the group of senior players who … have suggested the bloke to get back the spirit or culture of 2013 is Rikki Johnston, so they’ve virtually given the club an ultimatum, saying, ‘it’s him — being me — or us’,’’ Koop said.

Koop said he learnt of the players’ wishes before last week’s game but coached the Tigers in the final two rounds because he was contracted.

He said he was disappointed to have to quit because he felt he’d done a good job this season in trying circumstances after a number of player departed the club in the pre-season.

“It’s disappointing more so because I’ve actually enjoyed the year as a challenge,’’ Koop said.

“From a coaching perspective I think I’ve squeezed everything I could out of those blokes.’’

Just two weeks ago, Koop was bursting with pride after Dromana’s upset win over the highly-rated Rye.

He said he would step aside after coaching the Tigers against Red Hill on Saturday.

“I haven’t been sacked,’’ he said.

“My concern is the Dromana Football Club and they are left with no alternative, so I’m going to have to step aside.

“What do they do, mate? Do they go to the players and say, ‘no, we are the committee, we’ve made this decision’, and possibly lose half a dozen or so of their better players which takes them back years?’’

Koop said the club committee’s “hands are pretty well tied’’.

“And I’m not going to force the issue,’’ he said.

Dromana president Mark Crawshaw said there had been “some slight issues’’ between Koop and some senior players.

“Obviously something’s cropped up in the last couple of weeks with some of the playing group,’’ Crawshaw said.

There’s a feeling that if Dromana secured Johnston as coach, several premiership players would also return, including Paul Minchington.

Koop, who estimated he had coached more than 300 games at various clubs, said he still had the “passion’’ to coach but, at 55, admitted he was “getting older’’.

“The passion is still there. I just don’t know if I want to throw myself into the deep end,’’ he said.

Koop took over as coach of Dromana after the Tigers won the 2013 Nepean league premiership.

He had the Tigers firing in 2014 but a stack of injuries led to a straight sets exit from the finals.

This season Dromana is 5-15.