Shane Skontra
WAUBRA’S dual premiership coach Shane Skontra will exit the helm at the end of the season.
And the Roos have already confirmed a replacement for the 35-year-old, with current assistant coach Jason Allen the man trusted to take over the role.
Skontra said his decision was an amicable one with the club, feeling the time was right to stand down from the top job.
“I’ve got three boys three and under. It’s a great chance now to spend some time at home, focusing on that area of my life,” Skontra said.
“(Jason) will bring a really strong change to the club and that will be great for the players, too, I’d say.”
However, Skontra has not ruled out continuing as coach of the Central Highlands Football League’s interleague side.
After leading the team to victory in its long-awaited return to senior representative football in May, Skontra said he had been offered the position again during preliminary discussions with the league’s board.
“It was a terrific experience this year and I quite enjoyed the whole package, meeting other players and coaches along the way,” Skontra said.
Skontra believed being a coach solely assigned to interleague duties could work well.
“To be totally honest, I think the league may look in favour of that being a more ideal scenario. More time and you can get to other games,” he said. Waubra president Justin Mullane said Skontra had been a fantastic servant to the club, leading the seniors to flags in 2006 and 2011, as well as to a grand final in 2007.
“The commitment and effort that he has given is unbelievable, and the results as well,” Mullane said.
“I think the legacy he has left in the club is the professionalism and camaraderie that the whole group has got. Professionally, I think he took our club to a whole new level, and helped take the league to a whole new level.”
Mullane said Allen, who was recruited to the club from Riddell at the start of this season, would be an ideal replacement for Skontra.
“Jason’s footy knowledge is fantastic.
‘‘He has connections outside the usual pulling area of Ballarat, and he’s got a pretty wide network of footy contacts in pretty high places.”
Tim.OConnor@thecourier.com.au