Highly regarded NPL Queensland coach and technical director Joe Fenech will return to the Central Queensland region as Director of Coaching in conjunction with Football Queensland and newly formed club Central Queensland Mariners FC.

Fenech, who was inaugural head coach at Rockhampton’s CQFC Energy before taking an interim position guiding fellow NPL Queensland club FNQ FC Heat this season, will be based in Gladstone for the newly created role.

The position is jointly funded by Football Queensland and a local consortium of football enthusiasts and business persons representing the Mariners bid team, including former Football Gladstone President Brian Niven.

While Fenech’s primary responsibility will be to instruct and develop the region’s coaches, he will also assist the Mariners bid team as they seek to field senior sides in the Central Queensland Premier League from next season.

The Mariners group have also indicated they will seek a full NPL Queensland licence – offering the potential of a Gladstone-Rockhampton derby with Energy in the future.

Football Queensland Chief Executive Geoff Foster said Fenech’s appointment was a response to the growth in the Gladstone area and greater Central Queensland region.

“Gladstone has demonstrated solid growth over the past couple of years in terms of participation numbers but also economically,” Foster said. “We’re rewarding and supporting their growth with this joint venture that seeks to invest and support football in Central Queensland.”

“At present, there are more registered players in Gladstone than Rockhampton and growth trends indicate that will continue well into the future.”

Foster said the appointment would complement the work of Rockhampton-based NPL Queensland club Central Queensland FC Energy, who recently concluded their debut competitive season.

“The Central Queensland zone is geographically diverse and this joint venture will not impact on the Energy’s obligations to service community football in Rockhampton.”

“The Mariners bid group is ambitious and have expressed interest in progressing through the NPL application process and, perhaps, even as far as the A-League in the longer term.”

“With the Energy in Rockhampton and the new joint venture involving Joe in Gladstone, the future of football in Central Queensland, especially for the region’s juniors and coaches, is brighter than ever.”

Fenech said he was excited about returning to Central Queensland, where he also guided Capricorn Cougars in the Queensland State League prior to joining Energy.

“It’s fantastic to return to the Central Queensland region where I see real opportunity to finish what I previously started,” said Fenech.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of being Director of Coaching in Central Queensland and working with all the clubs and their coaches to deliver the best results for players in the region.”

“The Mariners bid have ambitions to represent the region in the National Premier Leagues and I’m looking forward to helping the club work with Football Queensland to achieve that aim in the future.”

 

Words: Michael Flynn (Football Queensland)
Image: Keith Eigeland