The Maitland Magpies hope for the appointment a new head coach ahead of Sunday’s highly anticipated local derby with the Weston Bears after parting ways with Chris Turner on the weekend.
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The club’s committee spoke with Turner on Sunday and they will meet this week to discuss options for the rest of the 2015 National Premier League season, which includes promoting assistant coach Reece Thompson to the top job.
And all this before the Magpies host the Bears at Cooks Square Park on Mother’s Day in what will be the first clash between the Hunter Valley clubs in the Northern NSW top flight competition for more than a decade.
“We should know by the end of the week,” Magpies president Chris Rafferty said.
“We haven’t appointed a replacement at this stage, but we will have a meeting to decide on what way to go, whether we stay internal or look at someone else.
“Without a doubt Reece is in with a good chance and he comes from good stock, but a couple of other names have been bantered around as well.”
Rafferty did not reveal any of the Magpies other possible coaching options.
The Magpies appointed Turner in August after earning promotion and the departure of last year’s coach Graeme Law to Adamstown.
Turner has overseen operations for the past nine months despite work commitments taking him away regularly, with Thompson running training sessions in his absence.
Rafferty said it wasn’t ideal to make such a call just two matches into their return season, which has so far yielded a 2-all away draw with South Cardiff and a 5-1 home loss against Broadmeadow, after 12 years in First Division.
“It’s a shame because CT is a great guy who has become part of the club and part of the family,” Rafferty said.
“It was always a risk when we first appointed him, but work commitments have put a lot of restrictions on what he can get out of the boys.
“We had a chat about it while we were training down at Speers Point and in the end it was a joint decision.
“You only get one shot at this and you want to make the most of it.”
Turner said it was bitter-sweet to end his time at the helm, but he would walk away with his head held high.
“I engaged with this job nine months ago and I think we have achieved a lot in that time,” Turner said.
“For me, it was about brining experience at this level, making sure we were at the right level to compete and instilling confidence in the group.
“In a way I feel like my job is done.
“With me being away so much recently, I was making decisions and overseeing it, but Reece was running a lot of the sessions.
“I spoke in depth with the club on the weekend.
“It was all pretty open and honest and I feel pretty good about it.”
The Magpies are due to play their rescheduled match against Newcastle Jets Youth on Tuesday night but a final call on Cooks Square Park will be made on Tuesday morning.
Kick-off is 6.45pm.
The Weston Bears, who were beaten 1-0 by Newcastle Jets Youth at home on a wet Saturday afternoon, also have a mid-week game coming up against South Cardiff at Ulinga Oval on Wednesday night.
Kick-off is 7.30pm.