Tara Murray
Outgoing Romsey coach Corey O’Sullivan believes the club can have success in the Riddell District Football League in the next couple of years.
O’Sullivan, who has coached the side for the past four years, has been instrumental in helping the club return to being a premiership contender.
Despite what looks like to be an exciting future, O’Sullivan decided that his time as coach was up.
“I couldn’t make a commitment at the moment and I didn’t want to stuff around the club while I made a decision,” he said.
“I’ve always wanted the club to advertise every year I’ve been the coach, as there’s potentially someone out there better.
“I couldn’t give them an answer now and they’ve advertised.”
O’Sullivan looks back at his time as Redbacks coach as a successful one, which saw the club finish sixth in 2018 and finish the 2019 regular season in second, before being knocked out in straight sets.
He said while they didn’t win a final, it didn’t tell the whole story on and off the field. He said the club is close to having cleared its debts, if not debt free.
“We made finals and while we didn’t win one it might look like a fail, but it doesn’t represent the changes that have been made.
“We went into every game with 23-24 player points which is really good for a local club.
“Romsey is used to success and everyone wants to win and play finals. While we won premierships in 2014-15, it set the club back financially.
“The committee was fantastic to stand up and make a decision to take a different direction.
“I’m pleased and there are a lot of young fellows coming through.”
O’Sullivan, who is planning to still help out when he can, said if the club could keep the list together that they could have success soon.
He said they had the right mix of players.
“It is a fantastic list and experienced senior players who are fantastic fellows at 22-23-years-old.
“Then you’ve got blokes in the middle of their careers and 16,17,18-year-olds coming through.
“I don’t think Romsey will struggle to find a coach.
“It’s a fantastic list that is really strong if they can keep it together and I have no doubt they’ll have success in the next couple of years.”
The club has also advertised for an A-grade netball coach along with all other grades.
