Fans were forced to watch the Dandenong-Northcote clash from behind the fences as the club observed the first of a Football Federation Victorian issued two-game lockout.66617
By Gavin Staindl
DANDENONG Thunder coach Chris Taylor has walked out on the club – after a 6-0 thumping and just one week in the job.
Taylor was appointed coach of the Victorian Premier League team following the departure of former coach Stuart Munro last week.
However, after Saturday’s 6-0 home loss to Northcote, Taylor believes the time is not right for him to coach.
Taylor told president Driton Maliku he would like to be considered for the role next year, but for the time being he did not want to take over a sinking ship.
“He said we had too many injuries and he didn’t want to look bad,” Maliku said of the reason behind Taylor’s departure.
“He said he would love to coach Dandenong Thunder, but he couldn’t because of the injuries and it is all too late to change anything.”
Maliku expects assistant coach Franz Weimper to fill the void left by Taylor.
The walkout came only days after fans were forced to watch from behind the fences as the first of the two FFV-sanctioned lockouts began.
Crowds at George Andrews Reserve are normally known for their intense following on game day, but on Saturday both fans and players failed to find their voice.
Despite losing as many coaches as games in the last two weeks, Maliku believes his team can return to form.
“I still believe we can get back to good form,” Maliku said.
“Our captain Luke Sherbon returns this week and hopefully that will get the ball rolling.”
The depleted Dandenong was again hit by injury on Saturday, this time to full-back Steven Gray, who had a tooth knocked out in the 60th minute after he was hit by a stray elbow.
If he is to miss Saturday’s match against Green Gully it will leave a gapping hole in an already diminishing defence.
Prior to this week’s round, Dandenong led all VPL clubs in goals against, allowing only 15 goals from 17 games.
Thunder’s stingy defence was a critical reason behind its unbeaten run at the start of the season, but in the last two games it has given up nine goals.
WHILE Dandenong is struggling to prevent teams from scoring, Springvale White Eagles are simply struggling to score.
Saturday’s 2-0 loss to Richmond at Kevin Bartlett Reserve was Springvale’s fifth consecutive game without scoring.
Since late May, Springvale has conceded, on average, more than two goals a game, but on all five occasions has failed to find the back of the net when going forward.
