TASMANIAN-born Werribee coach Simon Atkins last night confirmed he would be interested in applying for the soon-to-be-expanded job of coach of the Devils.
Atkins, who finishes a two-year coaching contract with the Tigers at the end of the season, said:
``Yes, I'd like totalk to AFL Tasmania about the job and find out a bit more about it.
``I understand the job would have a pretty strong development role to it and I've had experience in that over here.
``I've got 14 players under 21 on my list over here and before that I looked after the youngsters when I was assistant coach at Coburg.''
A former Footscray and Fitzroy midfielder, Atkins coached Werribee to runner-up in the VFL last season and on Sunday masterminded its 35-point home win over the Devils to end Tasmania's hopes of making the finals.
The well-paid job will be thrown open at the end of the season to find a replacement for Mathew Armstrong, who resigned after the Devils'
crushing away loss against Frankston early last month.
Armstrong's assistant Brendon Bolton has taken over as caretaker coach while AFL Tasmania searches for a new coaching supremo who would be involved at AFL, state, regional and elite under-age levels.
``We not only want a coach to reinvigorate the Devils, but someone who will have input into a wide range of football matters,'' AFL Tasmania general manager Scott Wade said earlier yesterday.
``That would include coaching and management, with the AFL Tasmania head coach responsible for overseeing state team and talented player pathway programs for state under 18, 16 and 15 players as well as the Tasmanian Football academy.''
By: DAVID STOCKDALE
Last Modified on 15/08/2006 09:05