Hume City is hoping a change of coaches will help kick-start its National Premier League season.
Hume has struggled and is 12th on the ladder with just one win and two draws.
With the hope of getting some more wins on the board, City last week appointed Terry Kirkham as its new coach, replacing Nick Hegarty who has been in charge of the team since he replaced Ufuk Kubilayhan in July.
Hegarty, who will continue at Hume in a playing role, said the decision had been a few weeks in the making.
“It has been something we have been looking at,” he said.
“We wanted to make sure we are 100 per cent with coaching and 100 per cent with playing.
“Terry has coached for 20-odd years and spent the last couple of years in Brisbane. He’s no stranger to what’s needed and we need that.”
Kirkham will be City’s fifth coach in less than five years.
Hegarty said despite the poor results, he had seen a lot of positives in the way the side had played.
“We have been very close in some games,” he said. “There’s obviously reasons why we are where we are though.
“There’s been individual moments in games and we’ve been on the wrong end of them. It’s up to the playing group to make its own luck.”
Hegarty said he was unsure what changes would be made over the next few rounds but it was important the team supported Kirkham.
“It’s his area to look at now,” he said.
“Some fresh eyes. We’ve been reasonably happy with the performances and style of play and hopefully we can make the most of things going forward and hopefully results go our way.”
The change in coach didn’t bring immediate results.
On Saturday night, City lost to Dandenong Thunder 3-0.
Hume conceded two goals in the first half, before former Hume player Theo Markelis scored his second to seal the 3-0 win.
Meanwhile, Hume City has drawn Richmond in the sixth round of the Victorian stage of the FFA Cup.
Whittlesea United, which is the lowest-ranked team left of the 16 teams, faces Port Melbourne Sharks, while Whittlesea Ranges will host Altona Magic.
Ranges had a 0-0 draw with Moreland City on Saturday in NPL2 west.
Ranges has two wins and three draws from its 10 matches this season.
