Craigieburn is on the hunt for new football coach after premiership winning coach Lance Whitnall decided not to continue on in the role.
The Essendon District Football League club announced on its social media that Whitnall had stood down from the role after three years due to family commitments.
Whitnall started at the club as a football manager in 2018 before taking on the coaching role the following season.
He guided the side to the division 1 premiership in his first season earning the side a spot in premier division.
After not playing last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Eagles struggled this year in the top grade after the departure of a number of key players.
The side was winless and will be relegated to division 1 for next year.
Eagles president John Perrone thanked Whitnall for his commitment to the club.
He said Whitnall had worked tirelessly on teaching all the young boys, giving them his expert knowledge in football and in life.
“He has shown strong leadership by bolstering the playing list in 2018 as the football manager for a period of time, which he changed the development program and culture of the young playing group which resulted in making the preliminary final in 2018,” Perone said in the statement.
“We want to take this opportunity to thank you very much Lance for a fantastic journey we achieved at the football club, which will never be forgotten.
“We wish Lance the utmost success in the future to him and his family, whom we have come to know as our family, Dane, Rory and lovely wife Rhiannon.
“We wish you nothing but the best in whichever road you take. To your family we thank you for your commitment to Lance and all the hard work he did for our club.”
Tara Murray
