By Jarrod Potter
WHETHER or not the National Premier League model is rolled out next year, Dandenong Thunder will be ready.
In anticipation of the revised league structure, coming in either in 2014 or 2015, the Thunder has moved ahead of the rest of the competition by appointing the NPL-mandated position of technical coaching director and with it has come a new head coach.
These two men are extremely well known in Victorian soccer circles, with 2013 Thunder coach Stuart Munro taking on the technical coaching director position, leaving an opportunity for former Southern Stars’/Green Gully coach Dean Hennessey to take charge of the Thunder.
A difficult 2013 campaign has been put behind the Thunder, with the issues of the league lockout and exodus of championship winning coach Chris Taylor and a number of senior players at the transfer window deadline.
Hennessey still can’t believe how quickly it came about – a surprise phone call on Monday from Munro lead to an interview on Wednesday and before he knew it, the top job in Dandenong soccer belonged to him.
“It’s all come out of left field,” Hennessey said.”The opportunity has come here purely because Stuart has wanted a change in direction and I think to further his career he’s looking to do the director of coaching and he thinks that’s the extension from his vast experience as a player and a coach.
“That’s where the opportunity arose, Stuart rang me on Monday and asked if I would be interested in looking at it and I said absolutely.
“I was keen to get back in and it really went from there.
“Really excited, looking forward to it and it’s just one that has popped out of nowhere.”
Hennessey is glad to be on-side with the Thunder now, after a career spent coming to George Andrews Reserve as opposition – first as a player then through coaching with Essendon Royals, Southern Stars and Green Gully this season.
“I remember playing against them in the mid-to-late nineties… Billy Wright was playing in those days and they always had a big crowd,” Hennessey said.”We didn’t know who they were – but that’s when I first got to know the club and that was while I was at Richmond in 1996-97.
“From there when I got into coaching, with Essendon Royals, we got promoted together, their first Premier League game was against Essendon when I was coaching and then Southern Stars, being a local rival.
“There was a game here, a 1-1 draw, we needed to win to get a chance for promotion, they needed a draw and they got it. It was a great game and I have always thought this place is hard to come play at, whether as a coach or a player, and hopefully on the reverse side it will be hard for teams to come here and get a result.”
Dandenong Thunder committee member Sezar Jakupi said Hennessey was a boon for the club and the 1-2 combination of Munro/Hennessey in the top coaching positions will drive Dandenong back up the ladder in years to come.
“We’re delighted – it’s an unbelievable coup,” Jakupi said.
“Two professionals, people with great accreditation and experience and exactly what we need at this point to drive the club forward.
“It’s a landmark moment and there are big things ahead for the club.”
In other Dandenong Thunder news, the $750,000 redevelopment of George Andrews Reserve is set to start soon, with the club hoping the refurbishments to the facility are completed by next year’s season opener.
