State League’s longest serving coach expects an announcement on his future in coming weeks

Long-term Lauderdale coach Darren Winter will let the dust settle on his side’s exit from the 2020 TSL finals race before making a decision on whether he continues next year.

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DARREN Winter has remained coy on his coaching future after Lauderdale’s 2020 campaign came to a shuddering halt at the hands of Launceston.

The Bombers leader, who has been at the helm of the club for more than a decade and is the TSL’s longest-serving coach, could do little to stop the Blues’ rampaging run in the 48-point semi-final defeat at Windsor Park.

It ends a run of three consecutive grand final appearances for Lauderdale, but Winter declared he would let the dust settle before sitting down with the club and thrashing out his future.

Darren Winter talks tactics with his assistants. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“We will get the next couple of weeks out the way and I suppose there will be an announcement after that,” Winter said.

“I love football. It is a fantastic place to be around, as I’ve said before, these boys are like sons to me and I love being around them.

“But that doesn’t mean I will be coaching next year or I’m not coaching next year.

“We will spend a bit of time to reflect and talk to the club over the next couple of weeks and make a decision.

“We will let it all settle, we will have some honest conversations as we move forward and see what is the best fit for the club.”

Despite the apparent gap between the two Launceston clubs and the rest of the competition — the Bombers finished the home and away season two wins adrift of the Blues — Winter does not believe his side is as far behind as results suggest.

Darren Winter in his customary position in the Lauderdale coaching box earlier in the season. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“It’s obviously a big let-down losing our one and only final but I don’t think you can compare this season to last year.

“Everybody knew there were cutthroat finals and the top four were pretty close, whoever gets the upper hand in any game they will win.

“I certainly don’t think we are that far off the pace.”

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