Carey out of Saints picture
JUSTIN Carey has withdrawn from the race to become Birregurra’s next coach as the CDFL powerhouse ramps up its search for a new leader.
Saints president Mick Paddick said the club had spoken to the Ocean Grove star, who is eyeing a move into the coaching ranks.
“We did speak to him, but he won’t be the coach next year,” Paddick said.
“Justin’s got different plans. He was in the running and we were keen to talk to him, but it just didn’t work out for him.
“I think somewhere down the track he’ll coach.”
With Paul Lynch vacating the Grubbers job on Tuesday, Carey is reportedly interested in applying for the role.
Gunning for its thirdstraight senior premiership, Birregurra is searching for a replacement for Glen Darroch.
Darroch will step down at season’s end, citing work and family commitments.
“Glen was our preferred coach, but then we looked internally but none of the members of the senior leadership group has the capacity to do it,” Paddick said.
“So we did some taps on shoulders and we had some interest from people. We’re still pursuing a couple of people and we’ll advertise the job.
“We’ve got a number of scouts out there to see who’s interested.”
As the Saints enter the final round of the home-and-away season tomorrow, Paddick said the club was keen to appoint a coach before September.
“We’d like to lock someone down in the next couple of weeks,” he said.
“When we announce it, I don’t know, but that would be ideal. We’re happy to start interviewing straight away.
“We’re mindful coaches aren’t falling out of trees. It’s become really difficult.
“When you get a coach of that level of maturity and experience, they’re generally starting families and have work commitments and that’s making it more and more difficult to find the right person.
“We want to get the right person for our culture, and it needs to be a playing coach.
“We’re happy to look to Colac, Geelong, Warrnambool to see who’s around. We’ve got a good product and hardly any recruiting will be required.
“We’ve had a strong commitment from the group that a majority of them will stay on and we’ve got a good reserves and under-17 groups.”