There has been a change at the top at Rumbalara one round into the Murray Football League season with coach Chris Egan stepping down from the role.
Rumbalara made the shock announcement on Facebook on Monday, disclosing that Egan had vacated the coaching position for personal reasons.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with the Rumbalara Football Netball Club from the board, numerous committees, supporters, and the entire playing group,” Egan said in the club’s Facebook post.
“For unforeseen reasons I’ve had to step away from my coaching role. I’m shattered it had come to this. I’ll be back in the Rumba colours hopefully sooner rather then later, coaching again.”
Egan spent his junior career at Rumbalara before being selected by Collingwood with the 10th pick in the 2004 AFL draft.
He played 27 games in four years with the Magpies, before suiting up for a number of different Goulburn Valley League teams after his AFL career.
Egan later returned to Rumbalara as a player, also taking on junior and assistant coaching roles.
This year was set to be his first season in charge as the senior coach.
Rumbalara president Josh Atkinson thanked Egan for his hard work and commitment to the club.
“Chris has been a long-time servant of the club and we absolutely thank him for his contributions over the years,” Atkinson said.
“This year he took on the senior coaching role and he was doing a fantastic job up until his change of circumstances.
“He brought to light on the weekend that he has had a change of circumstances and he asked to step away from the role to be able to focus on his own personal health for the next period.
“We accepted that wholeheartedly because we strongly believe in doing what is best for people. He is as disappointed as anybody, but he has to do what is best for him at the moment.
“He is very much a Rumbalara stalwart and he knows this is home for him and he is welcome back any time he wants.”
With the coaching role now vacant, Atkinson said Rumbalara was working to find a replacement.
“As of Monday we initiated our hunt for the next coach and we think we have a couple of very likely candidates and passionate candidates in mind that we are hoping to formalise this week,” he said.
Atkinson said the change in coaches wouldn’t derail Rumbalara’s plans as the club looks to rebuild.
“The assistant coaches and playing group are still going to be there. The philosophy from the start of the year was always about growth and development,” he said.
“We have people in line who are interested in the role that are carrying that philosophy forward, so it won’t be much of a deterrent from what we have already started.”
Rumba lost to Deniliquin by 150 points in round one.
The team now has a bye in round two before taking on Congupna on Saturday, April 15.