North Geelong and Joey Didulica part ways

North Geelong’s bid to maintain its VPL1 status will come under a new coach after it parted ways with Joey Didulica. Here’s what could come next for both parties.

North Geelong and Joey Didulica have parted ways. Picture: Alan Barber

North Geelong Warriors and senior men’s head coach Joey Didulica have parted ways.

In an official statement, released by the Warriors earlier this week, the Elcho Park club announced the departure of one of the club’s favourite sons.

“North Geelong Warriors would like to announce it has mutually parted ways with senior coach, Joey Didulica,” the statement said.

“The club wishes Joey all the best with his future endeavours.

“North Geelong Warriors will be making an announcement regarding new coaching appointment/s in the near future.

Didulica’s assistants, Stuart Begg and Sean Mahon, will be taking the reins in this weekend’s crucial six pointer against Werribee City at home.

The club’s football operations director Vlado Dzajkic said the Warriors were disappointed to see Didulica depart.

“As a club, we’re devastated and we were hopeful we would be able to keep Joey in some capacity at the club, but in the end we both agreed that having Joey away for periods of time wouldn’t work for the team and club,” he advised.

“All the players and coaching staff now turn our attention to the game against Werribee, on Saturday, which we need to win if we want to stay up in VPL1.”

After suffering relegation from the NPL Victoria division last year, the Warriors appointed the former club junior and ex-Melbourne Knights custodian to lead the heavily youth laden outfit in the second tier VPL1 competition.

At the halfway mark of the season, the Warriors occupy bottom spot and a win against the second last placed Bees – who are four points ahead of the Warriors on the table – is imperative if the Elcho Park club is to survive the drop to next year’s VPL2 division.

Saturday’s clash with Werribee City at Elcho Park will kick off at 3pm.

Originally published as North Geelong and Joey Didulica part ways