South Warrnambool is searching for a new mentor after third-year coach Mat Buck made a shock decision to step down due to “family reasons”.
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Club president Steve Harris confirmed on Wednesday morning that Buck had approached the club on Tuesday and stated he would not be coaching in 2019.
“For family reasons – time pressures of his young and growing family – he has decided to step down as coach,” Harris told The Standard.
“As a club we are always disappointed to lose good people and Mat and his family have been a fantastic part of our club over the last three years but again we understand his reasoning behind his decision.”
On July 27 Buck had signed a one-year extension to his contract with a possibility to coach on into 2020.
“As the year has gone on he has reviewed his position in regards to that and decided the time was right to step down,” Harris said.
“He just wanted to be able to do justice to the role that he does and that he has done for the last three years.”
Harris said the club would shift its focus back onto the teams it still has competing in Hampden league finals.
The Roosters have their reserves and under 18.5s football sides and division two, 15 and 17 and under netball grades still vying for premiership glory.
In Buck’s three years at the club he has led the Rooster to 30 victories and 28 defeats. He also led the club to two finals series in 2017-18 after finishing eighth in 2016.
Buck was contacted for comment on Wednesday.