Murray football league: Rumbalara coach Chris Egan steps down
A former Collingwood player has resigned as coach after a disastrous start for one Murray league club.
Rumbalara is closing in on a replacement coach for Chris Egan, who stepped down after the club’s first round thrashing by Deniliquin in the Murray league last Saturday.
Egan vacated the role due to “personal reasons” after his team was beaten by 150 points with its only score of the match, a behind, coming in the final term.
Rumbalara also had to forfeit its reserves match.
Egan played juniors at Rumbalara before being drafted by Collingwood in 2004 and played at Goulburn Valley league clubs Echuca and Shepparton Swans.
He took over from another former AFL player, Jason Traianidis, as coach of Rumbalara for this season.
Rumbalara president Josh Atkinson said the club was advanced in its search for a replacement for Egan with its next game against flag fancy Congupna on April 15.
“We’re in a good headspace with the group we’ve got,” Atkinson said.
“We’re really optimistic with the season we will have.
“But I will admit it’s not an ideal start getting a hiding like that and having your senior coach step down.
“We’ve always prioritised personal wellbeing and Chris’ change in commitments means he has to step aside.
“We absolutely support that.”
In a statement posted to the club’s Facebook page, Egan said: “For unforeseen reasons I’ve had to step away from my coaching role. I’m shattered it had come to this. I’ll be back in the Rumba colours hopefully sooner rather than later, coaching again.”
Atkinson said he was confident the club would also have a reserves team when it played Congupna.
Murray league general manager Dale Norman said it was backing Rumbalara to turn its fortunes around.
“We’re concerned, but we’re not going to panic,” he said.
“We know they’ve got good structures in place.
“They’ve got a strong committee, strong juniors and they will battle through.
“It will be a tough year, but we will back them to come out the other side.”
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