Thursday, September 26, 2024

Alfred Hess is the third NPL Tasmania coach to call it a day

Photo:  Alfred Hess is airborne against Glenorchy Knights. [PlessPix]

Kingborough Lions United’s NPL coach, Alfred Hess, is leaving the club to pursue new opportunities in football.

Hess is the third NPL coach to call it quits.

As player-coach, he took the Lions to a fourth-placed finish in 2024.

South Hobart supremo Ken Morton pulled the pin on a 16-year tenure at the club, while NPL Tasmania championship-winning coach James Sherman has also resigned and is heading to Singapore to pursue new coaching opportunities.

Kingborough Lions United issued the following media release yesterday:

 

Kingborough Lions United Football Club today announced that NPL High-Performance Head Coach and Youth Technical Director Alfred Hess Is moving on to pursue new football opportunities.

“Alfred Hess joined the Club in 2021 and has served as the NPL Head Coach for two seasons, as well as the Club’s Youth Technical Director.” said Club President Brian Downes.

“Alfred has made a major contribution to our Club in numerous ways, particularly in the NPL High Performance space where he has put together a very professionally run program that has set new standards across the board”, added Downes.

“He departs the Lions having also made a significant impact on the development of our youth football pathways.”

Hess, who returned to Tasmania from Canberra in 2021, successfully guided the Lions to fourth place in the NPL Tasmania competition in 2023 and 2024, and as runner ups [sic] in the Summer Cup and the Lakoseljac (Statewide) Cup this year.

“Alfred is an exceptional young coach with a great future ahead of him, and the Club wishes him much success for the future. There is no doubt Alfred will make a mark in the world of football as he continues his professional development.”

“I am extremely grateful to Kingborough Lions United Football Club for the opportunities that have been afforded to me. To work in football, as an NPL Head Coach and Youth Technical Director at the Lions has been a meaningful and profound experience for me and one that has shaped my approach to coaching significantly” said Hess.

“I certainly will be keeping a keen eye on how Kingborough is progressing, and will assist the Club transition the program to a new coach.

“I wish the Club much success for the future” added Hess.

Brian Downes advised the recruitment of the next Kingborough Lions NPL Head Coach for 2025 is commencing immediately, with the Club prepared to look far afield if necessary to find the right coach. The Club is also seeking a new Youth Technical Director/High Performance Coach.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sad to see

Anonymous said...

Bring back Jez Kenth

Anonymous said...

Yes Jez

Anonymous said...

Wow Kenny didn't stay long out of retirement.
Doesn't anyone want to do the women at South or are there issues. I feel there's something not right.

Anonymous said...

Think your reading way to much into it. Ken was never retiring, was just stepping down from the NPL men’s team

Anonymous said...

Bizarre the best coach in the comp is coaching women’s?

Anonymous said...

Surprised they got rid of the previous coach players seemed to love him.

Anonymous said...

Ok you obviously are in the know fill us in.

Anonymous said...

@3:24...just maybe he decided to call it a day?

Anonymous said...

Or Moved on who really knows was lucky enough to coach with him at Olympia so who knows.

Anonymous said...

Anyone know why Beachside disappeared?

Anonymous said...

Why doesn't Walter post anything negative about Hobart City? Is he on their payroll?

Anonymous said...

Hobart city are tiny why would anyone speak about them at all.

Anonymous said...

Anon 8.20 pm. Judging by your comment you must be posting negative comments yourself or you would not know it was happening. Maybe Walter is a bit smarter than you I would suggest.

Anonymous said...

"Beachside" disappeared when the Hobart City FC brains trust stupidly made the decision to rename themselves and lost all support from those at the club prior to 2021-ish. Can't wait to watch them fail for the second time. Sad to see Beachside, a club who only years ago were competitive, dissolve.

Anonymous said...

Oh the Italians say they're getting the show grounds and that will fix everything

Anonymous said...

It’s more than what another club has been able to achieve for over 20 years!

Anonymous said...

Hobart City is definitely a vanity project it seems

Anonymous said...

There are a lot of people who can't wait to se this

Anonymous said...

There are very few clubs in Hobart. Beachside were very competitive not too long ago. What has happened is nothing short of a disgrace.