Morrison’s set for a touchdown at Apollo
DUAL premiership coach Alex Morrison has not taken long to find a new gig – he will be in charge of Surfers Paradise Apollo in the Gold Coast Premier League next year.
Surprisingly dumped by 2017 league champions Gold Coast Knights after taking the club to back-to-back titles, Morrison has signed a deal to head the charge at the Apollo, who won the 2016 Premier League grand final under David Benigno.
And, in a twist, Benigno has been linked to the vacant job with the Knights at the Croatian Sports Centre, although he denied he has already signed a contract with the 2017 league champions and beaten grand finalists.
“That’s football,” was how a philosophical Morrison explained his departure from the Knights, a move that came completely from left field.
Morrison declined to reveal what the reasons were behind his departure from the Knights but local fans were certainly stunned by the move.
“Now I’m looking at Surfers and I’m very excited about the move,” Morrison said.
“That’s where I first played when I came to the Gold Coast (in 2002) when the Apollo won the double and I was named Gold Coast player of the year.
“And current president Telly Karadimos was president back then.”
Morrison has played and coached at a number of clubs.
He started at Surfers, Broadbeach, Southport, Mudgeeraba and the Knights, where he was player-coach in 2016 when the club won the Coast League 1 double.
Morrison said veteran playmaker Chris Broadfoot is moving across from the Knights to be his assistant coach.
In another surprise coaching move, Burleigh’s favourite son Col Phelan will be back in the Bulldogs kennel in 2018.
Phelan was coach of League 1 club Merrimac this year after two seasons for with Magic United where he spearheaded the 2105 championship-grand final double.
With Burleigh Phelan won league titles in 2004, 2006 and 2007 and won grand finals in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2008.
“I’m going back home as it were,” Phelan said of his latest move that comes after talks with Surfers and Palm Beach.