Cobden coach Walsh steps down

COBDEN is pursuing a playing coach for the 2010 season after Wayne Walsh's decision not to seek re-appointment.Walsh, who guided the Bombers for three seasons _ the first two in a joint role with Stephen Hammond _ said yesterday he needed a break after coaching for nine of the last 10 years.``I told the boys on Sunday night,'' he said.``I just feel the club needs to be able to recruit someone from outside our area.``The club is pretty active in trying to recruit a playing coach and it would be a great role for someone to take on.''Walsh and Hammond placed a high priority on developing juniors.They were rewarded with the emergence of Ben Cunnington, Gary Rohan and Daniel Semmens at TAC Cup level, while Tom Watson, Joel Wallace, Leigh Evans and Jackson Merrett stepped up at senior level with the Bombers this season.``I think I've done the right thing this year bringing a lot of juniors through,'' Walsh said.``We've done that over the last three years.``I've just lost the drive to recruit, that's the main issue. If I could coach from April to September I'd do it all the time.''Cobden has been a football touchstone for Walsh since he started playing junior football at the age of 11.He played 190 HFNL games, including Cobden's 1997 and '98 premierships, which included three seasons as assistant to Bombers' playing coach Sean Lever.Walsh was playing coach of North Warrnambool Eagles in 2000 and '01.A neck injury curtailed his playing career midway through his first season as playing coach of Camperdown in 2002 but he continued in a non-playing capacity until 2005.After a 12-month break he returned to his home club as joint coach in 2007.Walsh said grand final appearances with Camperdown in 2003 and Cobden in 2007 represented coaching highlights and lowlights.``The highlight was getting there without too many stars in the teams,'' he said.``Getting ourselves into positions to win and being beaten were lowlights.``And finishing my coaching career at Cobden is a highlight. I always wanted to go back to my home club and finish up.''Cobden president Brian Smith acknowledged Walsh's service as a player and coach.``He's been a great asset to Cobden, the club and the community,'' Smith said.