Jon Fenech, the Kingborugh coach, has clear views of where he wants to take the Lions

 Photo:  Jon Fenech, the new Kingborough Lions United coach. [PlessPix] 

New Kingborough Lions United coach Jon Fenech, 40, is representative of a new type of coach working in the NPL Tasmania competition.

Full-time, articulate, strong playing and coaching experience overseas and in Australia, motivator and intelligent coaching principles, and someone the players can look up to.

I spoke to Jon during the week about his position and his work.

Walter Pless:  What is your playing and coaching background?

Jon Fenech:  I’m originally from the UK with Maltese heritage, and I’ve lived in Australia for the past eight years. I played for English clubs including for Blackpool FC,  Fleetwood Town and  Kendal Town. I represented Malta at U19 and U21 international level. I still play—and recently made my debut for Kingborough Lions United Over-35s and although a bit slower these days I hope I can continue to play for as long as possible.

My coaching career began over a decade ago. I’ve held junior coaching roles at Middlesbrough FC and Preston North End, and later led and assisted senior sides at QUT FC and St George Willawong FC—where I was part of one of Queensland’s most remarkable football stories. I had the privilege of working alongside an excellent coach in Danny Gnjidic and was part of a journey that saw the club achieve six promotions in nine seasons, including a historic 2024 campaign, where the club won both the FQPL1 Championship and the Queensland Champions League, while also competing in the FQPL1 Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium.

I’m halfway through completing a Masters in Global Sporting Directorship in Football and I aspire to continue my coaching education by eventually pursuing the UEFA Pro Licence.

WP:  What made you apply for the Kingborough position?

JF:  I saw a club with genuine ambition, a strong community base, fantastic president and leadership team  and the potential to become a leading force in Tasmanian football. The opportunity to take on my first Senior NPL Head Coach role, while also overseeing the High Performance Program, represented the ideal next step in my coaching journey.

It was a chance to bring my experience from high-performance environments—both in football and the corporate world—into a setting that values competitive success and community development. There’s a clear long-term vision at Kingborough that aligns with my coaching philosophy and professional goals. I felt I could contribute real value by building a culture of excellence, clarity, and accountability, and help take the club forward both on and off the pitch.

WP:   How are you finding football in Tasmania?

JF:  It’s passionate, competitive, and full of potential. There’s a solid technical base and a growing appetite for tactical development and professionalism. It’s a fantastic challenge to be part of, and I’m enjoying every moment of it.

Photo:  Jon Fenech watching a game with a friend. [PlessPix] 

WP:  Should there be promotion and relegation in Tasmania?

JF:  It’s a strong and often divisive question, and I can genuinely understand both sides. Tasmania’s geography, limited playing pool, and the logistical challenges of travel and training make expansion and sustainability difficult for many clubs.

That said, I do believe promotion and relegation should exist—but only if the right infrastructure, player depth, and governance structures are in place. The system must be sustainable and realistic, not just symbolic.

Promotion and relegation can lift standards, drive accountability, and reward ambition. But we also have to acknowledge that many Championship players choose to play at that level for lifestyle reasons—less travel, fewer commitments—which doesn’t always translate into viable NPL squads upon promotion.

At the same time, junior and youth participation in Tasmania is growing rapidly. That’s increasing the pressure on clubs to provide clear development pathways. With just eight NPL clubs—only four in the South—opportunities for talented young players to play senior football at the highest level are limited. This is why the Championship is getting stronger, and why NPL squads are getting younger.

Promotion and relegation should be the goal—but implemented with care, planning, and proper support to ensure long-term benefits for both clubs and players.

WP:  Can the Lions challenge for the title?

JF:  We’ll try—absolutely. But it won’t come through talk; it will come through consistent action. We’ve built a strong foundation, and our aim is to challenge in every single game we play. Whether that leads us to a title or not, time will tell.

What I do know is that we’re a growing squad. Growth naturally brings moments of inconsistency, but inconsistency is also a sign of development. We’re building something with long-term ambition, and that means trusting the process while staying competitive week in, week out.

Our focus is to be the best version of ourselves every match day—and if we get that right often enough, we’ll be in the mix.

WP:  Kingborough always seem to fall at the final hurdle. How will you overcome this?

JF: I can’t control the past—but what I can influence is the culture, standards, and mindset moving forward. I’ve only been in the role for six months, and from where I stand, this is a club still very much on an upward trajectory.

Ten years ago, Kingborough was seen by many as more of a social club. The fact that we’re now regularly in the conversation about top-four finishes and title contention shows just how far things have come. That progress alone says a lot.

Falling short can be frustrating, but it’s also a sign that we’re close. Turning those near misses into consistent success comes down to belief, preparation, and resilience under pressure—and that’s what we’re working on every day.

WP:  Are you content with the quality of your squad?

JF:  We’re a developing group—hungry, talented, and still learning what we’re capable of. There’s a strong foundation here, but we’re by no means the finished product.

The squad is evolving every week. We have a good mix of emerging young players and a few experienced leaders, and that balance brings both potential and challenges. Our focus is on development, building depth, and helping individuals grow within our playing model.

We’re not content to stand still—we’re always assessing how we can improve, whether that’s through coaching, internal competition, or smart recruitment aligned with our long-term vision.

WP:  How are the improvements in the club’s facilities progressing?

JF:  The progress has been excellent—and it’s a credit to the people behind the scenes who’ve worked tirelessly over many years to make it happen. The new seating is complete, and it’s transformed our home ground into a fantastic place to play and watch football.

We’re about to upgrade our gym facilities, which will take our training environment to the next level. Alongside that, continued investment in pitches, match day infrastructure, and performance tools is helping create a professional, high-performance space.

WP:  The club has a very large catchment area—how is recruitment going?

JF:  It’s a broad question, and it really depends on which level we’re referring to. Across our club, we now have 747 registered players, which is a testament to the volunteers, coaches, team managers, and community members who keep things running. That’s a huge base—and a real strength.

When it comes to NPL recruitment, the challenge is more nuanced. We want to attract the best talent available, but also ensure we don’t block the pathways of talented players already coming through our ranks. That balance—between short-term reward and long-term development—is one of the most difficult things to manage.

My mandate when I joined was to recruit and develop the most talented young players we could bring in and build around. So far, we’re tracking well, and we’ll continue to build a squad that fits the playing model and contributes positively to the club’s culture.

WP:  What is your coaching philosophy?

JF:  My philosophy is shaped by four core principles: specificity, consistency, forward-thinking, and clarity.

I design training with clear intent, maintain consistent standards, and promote an ambitious, forward-playing identity—Play forward, run forward. I communicate simply so every player understands their role.

On the pitch, I value high energy, disciplined possession, aggressive pressing, and an organised defensive structure where players clearly know their jobs. Success starts with clarity—how we train, how we defend, and how we represent the badge every day.

Photo:  Jon Fenech watching a game at Lightwood Park. [Photo by Ellie Gordon]