Tigers seeking leader with AFL experience

KINGBOROUGH’S search for a new senior coach for the 2018 TSL season is continuing, with the club insisting its ideal candidate will be a playingcoach with AFL experience.

The club had four wins from 18 games this year with interim coach Aaron Vince at the helm, after coach Scott Matheson was sacked before coaching his first game at the Tigers.

Tigers vice-president Rod Herweynen said Kingborough was yet to find a suitor to head the club and said the board was gunning to find someone who can also help out on the field.

“Our ideal candidate would be a playing coach like [new Burnie assistant coach] Luke Russell,” Herweynen said.

“We’d prefer an ex-AFL player but the interstate people we’ve spoken with have not shown a lot of interest.”

Herweynen believes the Tigers’ young playing list needs more on-field support from experienced senior footballers.

“With [former captain] Tim Petersen now gone we need to support those few leaders that we do have,” he said.

“While our young group are all good footballers, you’re not going to grow your group without experienced players at the club.”

The Tigers vice-president said the club was determined to go out and chase a new coach rather than create an application process for the role.

“We’ve chosen to headhunt this year, instead of just putting applications out there,” Herweynen said.

“We’ve been through that [application process] in the past and . . . you’re not always guaranteed to receive interest.”

Kingborough also has the job of appointing a new club president before next season, with a decision expected to be made after a boarding meeting on December 15.

Cripps Nubake chief executive Paul Gadomski, who recently joined the Tigers board and is the father of young gun Lachlan, is considered a likely candidate for the top job.

“I’ve certainly put my name forward for the job, but that’ll be a decision for the board to decide on,” Gadomski said.