football
GIPPSLAND Power head coach Nick Stevens will part ways with the TAC Cup club next season after landing the top job at South Australian National Football League club Glenelg.
The 33 year-old former Carlton and Port Adelaide star signed a two-year deal at Brighton Road and will replace the departing Kris Massie.
Power talent manager Peter Francis said the news came as bitter sweet for the Morwell-based club.
“It felt a little bit funny because I would have liked him to stay; he’s been a fantastic coach for us obviously but I would never hold anyone back who’s trying to further their career,” he said.
Francis said Stevens was second choice for several 2014 assistant coaching positions in the AFL due primarily to a lack of experience coaching at senior level.
“The stumbling block was they felt he hadn’t coached an elite senior team in the VFL and SANFL and things like that,” Francis said.
“He is ready for it and he’s probably ready to take an assistant role at an AFL club when it’s all said and done but he goes with our blessing and he has been wonderful for our club and our players.”
Stevens served as Power coach for the past two seasons, leading the side to a grand final in his first year.
Francis said the wheels were already in motion in the hunt for a replacement.
