Danny Gnjidic has stepped down from his role as Ballarat City coach due to work commitments.
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Gnjidic and his family will move to Brisbane in a permanent role that was “too good to refuse” and one that left him no other option than to part ways with City.
Gnjidic, who coached the side for two seasons, said he left the club with mixed emotions.
Leaving a project that he started, yet will not have the chance to finish leaving a hollow feeling for Gnjidic, but work must come first.
Gnjidic was confident that the club’s youth would hold it in good stead and looked forward to seeing it blossom, even if it was from afar.
“I’m leaving a project that is part-completed,” Gnjidic said.
“Despite what the results might suggest, I think there’s some strong foundations that have been laid.
“I believe those seeds will grow into something significant in the next year or two, it’s a shame I won’t get to see them come to fruition.
“We would’ve liked to have won more games and finished higher up the ladder. But when you look at it from a holistic point of view, it was a very competitive division, we were an inexperienced team and that probably led to that. But I dare say there are better days ahead, I would’ve loved to have given it another year or two.
“There’s a fair bit of excitement. But these things are always hard to do, I’ve got family, three kids, you’ve got to consider all those things.”
Gnjidic said he had enjoyed his time at the club and was looking forward to seeing who would replace him at the helm before his move in December.
However, Gnjidic did say it was super important for the club to ensure whoever does take over the role has an understanding of continuing to fuel what makes Ballarat City unique.
Gnjidic said City’s homegrown talent made it a unique club in the Football Federation Victoria environment, sustaining that is crucial.
“There’s a team here that is truly representative of its region. Other teams with resources, which is essentially money, chop and change their squads all the time. That’s where we’ve got that uniqueness, I’d hate for the club to lose that, and I don’t think they will, but it needs support from everyone in Ballarat football.”
City finished ninth on the ladder with nine wins from their 28-game National Premier League two west season. Ballarat City will undergo its search for a new coach as soon as possible, with pre-season for next year starting in November.