Zois’ move unacceptable

July 8 2014

Shepparton News

Outgoing Goulburn Valley Suns senior coach Peter Zois has left the struggling National Premier Leagues soccer club high and dry.

Worse than his record of two draws and seven losses from nine matches in less than two months at the helm was the timing of his decision — one week after the mid-season transfer window slammed shut.

During his tenure he oversaw the signing of six players from outside the region and the departure of seven others, including four Goulburn North East Football Association products, while introducing a weekly training session in Melbourne.

At least one under-20 player left the club for lack of senior opportunities and one senior player for being unable to meet the Melbourne training requirement.

Whether Zois’ approach was right or wrong, he failed to see it through and that is unacceptable.

A new coach inherits a problem-riddled squad Zois helped build, with no scope for change for the remainder of the season.

After a poor run of performances and results and a meeting with the club hierarchy set for tomorrow, perhaps he jumped before he was pushed.

If that was the case, the Suns’ board has as much to answer for as Zois. In sourcing a replacement, the Suns need to learn from their mistakes.

They need a senior coach based in the region, who is willing to embrace the development of local players and not content to wipe his hands and walk away when the going gets tough.

That person does not need to be high-profile, but they need to be strong enough in his or her convictions to resist the urge and persuasion of others to spend ridiculous money on players.

There is no question the lack of preparation for the inaugural season made it almost impossible to source players, coaches and volunteers and some blood must be on Football Federation Victoria’s hands for the Suns’ plight.

However, the departure of local players Fahed Algha zaly, Monty Alghazaly, Anthony Calandro, Nick Kalafatis and Abdullah Wahidi cannot be accepted as collateral damage in the bid for competitiveness at the top level.

Those local players that have been willing to step up must be given every opportunity to develop and that will encourage others to follow suit.

Inclusion in the top tier did little more than cloud the objective the Suns’ junior teams have so openly embraced — development before results.

The two go hand-in-hand, so start fresh, let go of the fear of relegation and use the remaining 10 games to develop senior players for next season when the fight is fairer.

Damen Francis is The News’ sports editor.