Panthers sets up finals push

By Paul Pickering
LESS than a month after crashing out of the Premier Cricket finals, Dandenong is already setting the foundations for a bid to reclaim the premiership next summer.
The Panthers last week re-signed Warren Ayres as head coach for the 2008-09 season, recognising the outstanding job Ayres has done in developing a gifted young squad during his tenure as playing-coach.
That announcement was swiftly followed by the appointment of former Casey-South Melbourne head coach John Hayes as an assistant this week.
Dandenong president Michael Findlay said Hayes, who will join Bruce Waldron in the assistant coaching role, will be a welcome addition to the Panthers coaching ranks.
Meanwhile, Ayres’ retirement as a player has opened the door for a new skipper to lead the Panthers on field.
North Melbourne veteran and prolific run-scorer Darren Dempsey is believed to be among those in Dandenong’s sights.