A Geelong Adi Article

Friday, 20 August 2010 23:06

Promotion-bound Geelong forced to find caretaker, August 20th, 2010

GEELONG Soccer Club has parted ways with coach Lu Temelkovski despite being on the brink of clinching the State League 3 championship.

Temelkovski resigned in the wake of last weekend's win over Keilor Park.

Former Geelong and Geelong Rangers coach Robbie Noggler has been installed to take charge for Geelong's crucial final five matches of the season.

The departure of Temelkovski follows a disagreement with Geelong's committee.

Neither the committee nor Temelkovski would elaborate on the nature of the fall-out.

However, this is not the first time that a Geelong coach has exited after a short period in charge.

Temelkovski, a long-term member of Geelong's back room staff, took over senior team duties earlier this season after Vata Garcia quit for personal reasons.

Garcia only oversaw the side for a handful of matches after being appointed prior to the current season. Last year, Geelong went through a similar situation when Scott Miller departed the club before the season had even started.

Noggler, who becomes Geelong's fifth coach in less than two years, will take charge of a club that is one point from top spot with a game in hand.

"It's not a good time for us but Lu felt his position was untenable, which we weren't happy about," Will Talev, head of football operations at Geelong, said.

"He felt strongly about it and we tried to talk him out of it, but he was adamant.

"There's no problem with the committee. We feel, generally, that happy players make better players and we don't want to break that.

"(But) the playing group weren't unhappy with Lu. It was to do with the committee and him."

Temelkovski wouldn't reveal what his issue with the committee was.

"The less I say about it the better," he said.

"The best way for ex-coaches to maintain their dignity is to be seen and not heard, much like current presidents should."

Geelong has turned to a proven performer in Noggler, who previously played for the club and has been away from coaching, aside from commitments at the Barwon Sports Academy, since quitting as Geelong Rangers coach after last season.

Noggler, who will reunite with his former Rangers players Troy Hardy, Ronnie Clayson and Scott Davidson at Geelong, said: "It's not a bad position to be in but the pressure is on to get promotion. I know all the players from being around the game, but there will be pressure on me to get it right from the start."