Lake Wendouree is looking for a new senior coach following news that the man who held the position in 2017 is keen to focus on just playing next season.
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Tim Malone, who was named the Ballarat Football League’s coach of the year in his first season in the role, has asked the Lakers’ committee to look for his replacement.
The 30-year-old is currently building a house and expecting a second child in the coming weeks, which he said were reasons behind the decision to step away from the coaching position.
But Malone admitted he could continue in the job if the club can’t find a suitable successor.
“If they can’t find someone it might be a case of someone else doing it with me or whatever,” Malone said.
“(But) at this stage I’m not doing it.”
Malone returned to his former club following last year’s second-successive premiership with Springbank and took over the coaching job from Gavin Webb.
The clever defender has a successful history with Lake Wendouree, having won the club best and fairest while captaining the team in its premiership year of 2010.
Malone guided the Lakers to top spot on the ladder by the end of the home and away rounds in 2017, but the side was unable to reach the grand final after suffering a preliminary final defeat at the hands of Bacchus Marsh. It was the fourth time Lake Wendouree had been beaten by the Cobras.
Malone admitted he felt last season was an opportunity missed for the club, which he believed had the list capable of winning the flag.
Meanwhile, Hepburn is still yet to announce its new senior coach.
Burras president Jason Dooley had been expected to confirm the appointment last week.
The club has been forced to look for a new leader after Jason Olver decided to step down from the role. Olver took the club to the Central Highlands Football League premiership this year.