Darren Little: back for another two years.
UNFINISHED business has prompted Russells Creek coach Darren Little to commit to the Roos for a further two years.
Creek yesterday announced it had re-signed the former Terang Mortlake big man until the end of 2014, a win-win situation for the club and coach.
Little said he always planned to remain at the helm of the club and he was delighted to wrap up negotiations before the end of the season.
He said he sounded out players about their plans for season 2013 before putting pen to paper.
“I wanted to make sure everyone was on board with what we were trying to achieve and that’s the case,” he said.
“The majority are sticking around. I was always keen to go again, I just wanted to make sure that was the case before we got talking.”
Little said he had a vision to restore ninth-placed Creek to finals, which required the buy-in from the playing group.
He said the club needed “three or four” experienced recruits, including “a nice forward and a nice back” to back up a capable onball unit next season.
Developing half a dozen under 17 footballers who received senior games this season is also central to a Roos resurgence.
“I reckon we’ve got to really build the club up again,” he said.
“We have to look after the juniors. The kids that we are going to play are going to play a big role in the future of the club.
“You have to put faith in the blokes that have been there. Hopefully we can recruit a couple of players and go from there.”
Creek president Rod Barker said the club never considered searching for a new coach. “It never crossed our minds we wouldn’t re-sign him,” he said. “We know we’re not going to be able to go from where we are to top of the ladder, we know we have to rebuild.
“And it’s going to take a couple of years and that’s why we’ve reappointed (Darren) for a couple of years.
Barker said assistant coach Ben Jansen had left the door open for the club to bring in another sidekick for Little.
But he said the club was happy with its hard-nut onballer taking the reins for another year.
“They’re a good combination,” he said.