Cairnlea show coach the door

by Zee Ko 2

Cairnlea have parted ways with head coach Nick Koutroumanis after only two games, becoming the first WPL club to do so this season.

Club president Beige Hussein said that a recent family bereavement, together with overseas work assignments meant that Koutromanis was unable to find the time to continue in his role.

“Given his personal circumstances, we thought it best that he take the year off,” Hussein said.

“Work commitments meant he has to travel overseas very frequently this year and he can’t really commit to the team.”

Current reserve coach Mustafa Fehmi will be in temporary charge this weekend as the club continues to look for replacements.

“Mus is caretaker at the moment while we look for another coach,” Hussein said.

“We’re talking to a few people and we’ll be announcing a new coach next week.

“Mus is our reserve coach, and has been coaching [the seniors] for the last four or five years anyway.”

In better news for the club, central defender Genia Avram has signed terms to return and is an outside chance to line up this weekend.

“I’m pretty happy to be back,” she said.

“I had no transport but one of the kind parents offered to give me lifts, so that was the decision to go back.”

Cairnlea are currently seventh in the table following mixed results in the first two rounds, and will face Sandringham at home on Sunday.