From left: Former Doveton Eagle Ben Hughes, Lyndale Pumas runner Mick Souter, former Doveton Eagles coach Paul Wilson and Pumas senior coach Danny Scott. Hughes and Wilson have both made the move to Lyndale Football Club.Hughes, the division three best and fairest and goal umpires’ award recipient, was surprised that Wilson was not reappointed and said there was a lot of complacency among Eagles players.By Glen Atwell
THE sacking of Doveton Eagles coach Paul Wilson has caused major shock waves at the Southern Football League (SFL) club, as a brood of talented performers leave their division-three nest to continue playing under the rejected coach.
Wilson has been appointed as senior assistant coach and reserves coach at Lyndale Football Club.
A testament to the coaching skills of Wilson, the move will elevate his aerie of now former Eagles players to division two of the SFL.
Division-three best and fairest and goal umpires’ award recipient Ben Hughes, talented midfielder Russell Weeding and Roger Lumanovski have already started training with the Pumas.
After Wilson coached the Eagles to a minor premiership of 17 wins and one loss this year, it was no surprise that several Eagles players would disagree with the sacking. The club has appointed senior captain Paul Davis as coach for 2006.
Wilson cited cultural flaws at the Eagles as the main reason he was not reappointed.
“I brought discipline and hard work to the club. With it came success, but it didn’t sit well with some people at the club,” Wilson said.
The loss of Hughes, Weeding and Lumanovski spells trouble for the Eagles and is a major coup for the Pumas, who look like cementing themselves as a strong division-two club next season.
Wilson said he was not surprised that Eagles players decided to follow him to Lyndale and said he preferred his new division-two role.
“It’s perfect, stepping up to division two will be great,” he said.
Wilson said he was flattered that the Pumas pursued him after hearing he had been dumped by the Eagles.
“Lyndale is a very professional football club, you get the feeling as soon as you walk through the door.
“There are 35 to 40 blokes turning up to training every Monday and Wednesday, it says a lot,” Wilson said.
Jason Young, who has stepped down |as coach of the Pumas to be replaced |by Danny Scott next season, said recruiting Wilson and the Eagles players had been a |positive step for the club.
“I think Wilson was harshly dealt with by Doveton – 18 wins and then get sacked? I was very surprised,” Young said.
The Pumas will regain several players who missed all of this year with injuries.
“Paul Cicchini will be back and a number of others, including a ruckman and a rover who have recovered from injury,” Young said.
The Eagles need to make it to next year’s grand final to justify the sacking of Wilson, who said only time would tell if the move was the right one.
Eagles president Craig Price said that the situation could become embarrassing if the senior side did not achieve success.
But Price stood by the decision to appoint Davis as coach of the Eagles, saying he had been with the club for a long time and was ready to take on such a role.
