Rovers lose team and coach in two weeks

 

By Tammy Mills

April 5 2010

Shepparton News

Benalla Rovers Soccer Club has pulled out of fielding a senior side in Goulburn North East Football Association and has lost its women's coach all in the space of a couple of weeks.

The Rovers informed the association committee they no longer had a senior side after the club lost six recruits to Shepparton clubs.

On top of that, women's senior and under-15 coach David Delahaye left the club last Wednesday night.

Rovers president Peter Gebauer said with the season only a week away he was feeling down and out.

"I feel a bit disheartened. It's a kick when this happens," Gebauer said.

"It's just disappointing when we've worked so hard to get everything organised."

The Rovers had arranged for eight players from Shepparton to come across to Benalla, but the club was informed on March 20 six of these players committed to Shepparton teams.

While Gebauer wouldn't name the players, Rovers secretary Richard Felton said some of these players had been scouted by Kialla United.

Gebauer said they informed the league committee they would be unable to field a senior side on March 23.

"We could put a senior side down on the park, but they're only young players," Gebauer said.

Association president Frank Trimboli said the committee was disappointed with the Rovers.

"We're certainly not happy about it, but we can't force them into it," Trimboli said.

"We have a strong competition, but it deters other clubs from the field . . . they might not be competitive with the top four, but they'd make up the lower half."

Trimboli said they would replace the hole left by the Rovers with a bye.

Left with this headache, Gebauer said the set-backs continued with Delahaye leaving the club due to family commitments.

Delahaye will support his 15-year-old daughter, Aimi, who will be travelling down to Melbourne every week to play with women's premier league side Box Hill and in the state under-17 side.

"As much as you love clubs, family is first," Delahaye said.

"I'll still help out with training, but I can't commit 100 per cent to coach a team . . . if you can't commit then you shouldn't do it."

Gebauer said he hadn't personally been informed by Delahaye.

"It's for reasons I'm unaware of yet . . . he has informed other members," Gebauer said.

Delahaye said he had sent an email informing the club committee of his resignation.

Gebauer said the club had now appointed a new senior women's coach, Marion Weatherbee.

Weatherbee is the wife of senior men's coach Anthony Weatherbee.

The Rovers will have a reserves side and are looking at putting together a senior side next year.

The Goulburn North East Football Association season starts on April 11.