AFL Goldfields has announced who will be taking over from Rod Ward after the former regional chief made the decision to leave the organisation for the Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club.
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Gerard Ryan, husband of Central Highlands Football League manager Diane Ryan, will take over the role as of Monday.
Ryan has been working for over 15 years in the Victorian Country Football League and within the AFL Victoria organisation in numerous roles, most recently as the community football operations manager.
Speaking to The Courier after securing the role, Ryan made it very clear what he was aiming to achieve as the new regional general manager.
I'm going to work with the leagues and the clubs, that's what it's all about.
- Gerard Ryan
"It's a role which should be collaborative and about working with clubs and leagues to put in place the best way forward for football as they see it."
Born and bred in Ballarat, AFL Goldfields is hoping Ryan can pull from his wealth of local knowledge to help make the best decisions for each of the leagues in the region.
Ryan heaped praise on the departing Ward, who he said helped AFL Goldfield tremendously during his time at the helm.
"He's had more than 15 years where he's had key roles within community footy around Ballarat and the Goldfields region... his contribution has been enormous.
"He put a lot of things in place and I'll be trying to pick them up and do the best job I can."
When asked if there were any specifics he has looking at coming into the position as points of emphasis or concern, Ryan said it was too early to comment.
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