Begg says Rangers need a ‘different voice’

AN emotional Stuart Begg says he felt the time was right to step down as Geelong Rangers coach ahead of today’s clash with Hume United.

Begg met with the club this week and, following that meeting, told the players of his decision to step down on Wednesday night.

Rangers spokesman Mike Chapman confirmed development coaches Liam McCloskey and Pete Bradley would take over for the rest of the season.

Rangers sit four points above the relegation positions with five games remaining and still have to play struggling sides Mill Park and Westvale at home.

Two wins should be enough to leave the Bell Post Hill outfit safe from the drop.

Begg said he felt a “different voice” might help Rangers find their mojo for the final five games of the season.

“I was just feeling, to be honest, that I needed a reaction from the players and maybe a different voice might be better for them to finish off the season,” Begg said.

“We are not in a relegation (battle) at the moment but there is always a danger of that. Talking to the football development committee, (the thought was that) it was best that I stood down.

“I feel like it was the right move to make. It was very, very hard (to make that decision).

“I was very emotional telling the players. But at the end of the day I was doing it for the players in the room.”

Begg, a club legend with 399 games to his name, said Rangers have a seriously talented young squad, but needed a little bit more experience to truly find their best form.

“We had a massive rotation from last year. We have an average age of 23,” he said.

“Unfortunately that can lead to inconsistency.

“There were a lot of games that could have gone either way and unfortunately we were just unlucky they went the other way.

“I back the players 100 per cent. They are capable of magical things whenever they turn it on.

“We just haven’t had the leaders on the park to lead the team week-in, week-out.”

Chapman said Begg would continue on with his junior coaching commitments and thanked him for his effort with the senior team.

“We wish him all the best,” Chapman said.

“He is close to becoming a 400-game player for us, he is a very respected junior coach and a very passionate parent around the club and a fantastic club person.”