Lutwyche appointed as Devonport's new coach

 

BY MARTIN AGATYN

24 Nov, 2010 01:00 AM

 

REJECTED Ulverstone underage football coach Glen Lutwyche has been appointed senior coach of Devonport, ending a drawn- out fortnight of uncertainty for the Magpies.Lutwyche coached the Ulverstone under 19s to an NTFL premiership this year, but was overlooked by the Robins, who gave his job to Turners Beach coach Scott Pearce.A former senior player with Ulverstone Lutwyche replaces Errol Bourn, who took the Magpies to the State League grand final this year and was re- appointed before suddenly resigning two weeks ago.Lutwyche also played reserves football in the former Statewide League for Devonport, where he was reserves captain, and North Launceston in the 1980s after a knee injury slowed his progress.Devonport president Steve Daley said Lutwyche had a proven record of working with and developing younger players, demonstrated by his success with Ulverstone."He (Lutwyche) has an outstanding football brain and excellent communication skills," Daley said last night.

 

Lutwyche met with Devonport players last night, with his appointment well-received by the playing group.He will conduct his first training session tonight."Coaching at State League level is a huge challenge, but I'm looking forward to it," Lutwyche said."I have huge expectations for the team and expect the players to have a red hot go," he said."They made the grand final this year and it's important not to lose that momentum. "There's a good nucleus of talented young players at the club and we will be actively recruiting other players who want to step up and test themselves at the highest level of football available in Tasmania."

 

Lutwyche was not prepared to predict where the Magpies might finish in 2011."We need to win enough games to get into the finals and then anything's possible from there," he said.Daley said the club shared the frustration of players and supporters over the delay in appointing a coach, but said throughout the process the board was committed to making the right choice."We were not going to be dictated to by the media or ill- informed comments by members of the public," Daley said."While the delay was unfortunate, I believe it will benefit the club in the long run," he said.

 

Meanwhile, former assistant coach Paul Atkins, who coached North Launceston in the State League this year, confirmed he had discussions with Devonport last week about the coaching job.However, Atkins said the discussions never reached the interview stage.