Whittlesea Cricket Club’s ambition for improvement has resulted in it appointing a coaching director, something not normally seen at this level.
In what is a first for the Diamond Valley Cricket Association, David Alleyne will oversee coaching at the club.
Club secretary Cameron Black said Alleyne’s role was about more than supporting 23-year-old new captain-coach Josh Nixon.
“David will … support and develop the capacity of the senior coach, captains and our young and developing list,” Black said.
“Throughout the season, David will also work with the junior program and the committee, helping to shape the future of our great club.”
Alleyne played country cricket with Nottinghamshire before taking up coaching roles in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
“They [Whittlesea] contacted me through my Future Stars program about how I could help them,” Alleyne said.
“We came to the conclusion that it would benefit the club having a coaching director role with a new and young captain-coach.
“You would normally see these at a premier division club or higher. I will help with the coaching program and so far it’s been really rewarding.”
Alleyne was all praise for Nixon.
“He is very talented and a young man who bats and bowls well,” Alleyne said.
“We are both excited about shaping the club going forward. We have a long-term plan and Josh has a clear idea of where he wants the club to go.”
He said the club had attracted a number of recruits – not big names, but players with potential to be so.
“We have attracted cricket lovers, which sits well within the club,” he said.
“One thing we are concentrating on is making sure we are playing well as a club as a whole.
“We will not put expectations on the players of where we want to finish.”
