They’re the qualities the Hampden football league is looking for as it prepares to offer a two-year contract to a new interleague coach.

The league is casting a wide net as it searches for a replacement for Nick O’Sullivan, who stepped down after four years in the role.

O’Sullivan was widely admired for his interleague passion, having restored Hampden’s pride and standing at representative level, including its first win in five years in 2011.

He took the league’s ranking to number six before this year’s record 125-point loss to a powerful Ovens and Murray side at Wangaratta.

League president Hugh Worrall, another staunch supporter of interleague football, is calling for interested coaches to apply for the vacant job. In return, the league is offering its new leader a two-year tenure with a licence to build his own coaching panel ahead of next year’s home game against the Murray league.

Worrall revealed the league’s preference is to play the May 23 match in Warrnambool, subject to ground conditions.

“We see it as the start of a two-year campaign,” Worrall said. “We play the Murray league at home and hopefully we can be successful in 2015 and then 2016 will be a big year (facing one of country’s Victoria’s best leagues).”

He said finding a new coach would not require a hard-sell from the league, citing the challenge to climb the rankings, a first-up home game, an influx of quality players to the competition and the continuing development of emerging young players.

Worrall said the league was open to all possibilities, including a playing coach. Although, he doubted a playing coach would have time to mix club and representative duties.

“We want to get the right fit,” he said.

“We want someone who is enthusiastic about the job and passionate about the league and its history.”

Worrall said an unprecedented community football and netball promotion was being planned for next year’s interleague clash. Apart from the senior football game between country Victoria’s seventh and eighth-ranked leagues, an under 18½s game was also being planned. 

Hampden took an under 18 side to Shepparton in 2011, which showcased the talents of players like Koroit’s Martin Gleeson who was drafted to AFL club Essendon 18 months later. 

Worrall said Murray was keen to reciprocate next year but if it did not eventuate, Hampden would split its best young talent into two sides under an east-versus-west concept.

The league is also working on providing a representative netball experience for 14 and under and 16 and under players, whose Sunday competition operates outside the netball interleague program at 13, 15 and 17 levels.

Worrall said the league was considering an east-versus-west concept for the netballers.

For the first time, the league is preparing to hold all-abilities football and netball games between sides from Warrnambool and Hamilton.

Applications for league senior and under 18½ football coaching roles are open until December 19.