By Tara Murray
Melbourne Knights have turned to a former championship winning player to take on the coaching role for the rest of the National Premier League season.
The Knights announced that John Markovski has been appointed coach for the rest of the season.
With NPL coaching experience as Altona Magic and Port Melbourne, Markovski joins at a challenging time, tasked with leading the Knights back to winning ways.
He replaces Knights legend Ivan Franjic who stood down from his role a couple of weeks beforehand.
Markovski said you are always wanting to coach and this job popped up at the right time.
“I know the road ahead won’t be easy, but I want to return the club to where it belongs, and that starts this week against Hellas [South Melbourne],” he said.
“It’s great to be back there, like a big club like Melbourne Knights.
“The opportunity came and I spoke with the club and know that it’s a big challenge.
“Melbourne Knights is one of the biggest names in Australian football. I have played in a championship there.”
Markovski said he was hoping that he could get the best out of the side for the rest of the season and help them rise up the ladder.
The Knights currently sit bottom after 14 rounds with three wins and 11 losses.
On Friday night, the Knights lost to Heidelberg United, 2-1.
“We’ll see what we can do,” he said. “Every game will be difficult but anyone can beat anyone on the day.
“I took over yesterday [Sunday] and my first game is Friday, the derby against South Melbourne.”
Markovski said would see what he had to work with and go from there.
“I’ll look to change the way that they are playing in a significant way,” he said.
It was a big week for the Knights who were in action on Tuesday night against Northcote City in the sixth round of Australia Cup, Markosvki’s first official game in charge.
The young Knights line up had led 1-0 at half time after opening the scoring in the third minute through Joseph Lettieri.
Lettieri made it 2-0 in the 57th minute after converting a header after a cross from Alex Hird.
Northcote City scored in the 61st and 71st to level the scores before Alun Webb against his former side scorer the winner in the 78th minute to end the Knights’ cup run.
