NORTH Gambier Football Club this week announced a major shake up to its senior coaching staff for the 2019 Western Border football season.
Head coach Winis Imbi has decided he will no longer coach next season, leaving the door open for a possible playing coach to take the reigns of the struggling Tigers and turn their fortunes around.
While it has been a tough season for the Tigers, with Saturday’s loss to Casterton Sandford a low point for the club, president Jamie Walters said the decision was 100pc Imbi’s and had nothing to do with on-ground performance of the A Grade side.
“Winis has made this decision for family reasons,” Walters said.
“It’s a long drive over from Portland and with the amount of time he puts into the job, he decided it was time to put some time back into his family.”
Walters said Imbi would make the trip across the border three to four times each week, while also in contact with players over the phone during the week to discuss the games.
He said Imbi would certainly be missed at the club.
“Winis has been a great bloke to have around the club,” Walters said.
“His mentoring and bringing on of young players has been sensational.
“It will be hard to replace someone of his calibre and football background, so we have a bit of hard to work to do over the next few months to see what we can find.”
Walters said Imbi’s effect on the club was hard to measure, but noted the hours he put into developing the leadership of the senior football sides, along with the advancement and mentoring of young players was above and beyond the call of duty.
“It is amazing how much work he puts into the role for a part time coach,” he said.
“He does full time hours with it.
“He will be very hard to replace, but that is what we have to do.”
Walters said with the structure of the league points system and salary cap, a playing coach would be the ideal scenario for the Tigers, but they did not have anyone in mind at the moment.
“We are advertising for the position and like most clubs the ideal situation is to find a playing coach,” he said.
“We have people in the background for the off field work – it is a juggling act these days.”
Walters accepted it had been a rough season for the Tigers, but noted a couple of key areas the side was lacking.
“It has been a tough season, due to change of personnel,” he said.
“Losing Brad Close and Declan Carmody at once – they are a couple of young gun players who don’t fall out of the trees too often.
“In saying that, our injuries this year have hurt us big time, but that has given the opportunity for guys to play their first A Grade game and hold their spot in the team as well, which has been great.
“Guys you might not have expected a couple of years to ever play A Grade are now playing and doing their role.
“That is something Winis has been about.”
Walters said the legacy Imbi leaves behind will ensure whoever takes on the role next season will have a solid foundation to build on.
He said the club is actively seeking applicants and would like to have the position filled within the next couple of months.
In his three years at the club Imbi claimed a premiership in 2016, followed by the runners-up in 2017, but this year will miss the finals series.
