Taylors Lakes Football Club has kicked off its search for a new senior coach.
The EDFL’s Lions are on the lookout for a replacement for Steve Burns, who stood down at the end of the season.
Burns took over the top job at Taylors Lakes in 2009.
He didn’t have to wait long to achieve the ultimate success. In 2010, he coached the club to the division 2 title, earning a jump to premier division.
The Lions have played finals the past three years after returning to division 2 in 2012.
Club president Peter Gavos said Burns was the Lions’ best-ever coach.
“Steve has really raised the bar and we need to maintain that high level of coaching,” Gavos said.
“He has been unbelievable in his service to the club and he has the respect of everyone. He’s a great person on and off the ground and we wish him all the best in future.”
Gavos said the club was open to signing a playing or non-playing coach for 2015. “We have put information out there and we’ll see what happens with that,” he said.
“I’ll be guided by the senior playing group and the football department.
“We are going to look for someone with a lot of quality; we’re here for the long run.
“We aren’t going to rush. We’re going to make the right decision as a club.”
Taylors Lakes finished third on the ladder in the division 1 home-and-away season with an 11-5 record.
The Lions fell one game short of qualifying for the grand final, falling to eventual premier West Coburg in the preliminary final. The club’s reserves side fared better, defeating Glenroy by 14 points in the grand final.
“This season has been great,” Gavos said.
“As president, I have been blown away by a bit of silverware coming our way. We had two junior premierships and the reserves premiership.”
The Lions are also celebrating another individual achievement for club legend Mark De Sousa, with the gun midfielder winning the EDFL’s best and fairest in the division 1 competition. It’s the fourth time De Sousa has won the award.
“It was great to see him get a standing ovation and obviously every other football club was quick to come up and congratulate him at the awards night,” Gavos said.
“It’s enormous to have someone like Mark around the club.
‘‘Not only does he put in a lot of time into training, he also helps out with the reserves and monitors junior development.
‘‘He loves that, he knows what it means to come through the ranks and have success.
“That’s why the De Sousa name is up there everywhere in the honour boards of the club.”
