Image: Keith Eigeland, Football Queensland

Western Pride today confirmed club Technical Director and Senior Men’s Coach Kasey Wehrman will leave the club at the end of this season to return to Norway.

A former Socceroos representative, Wehrman accepted the difficult task of establishing the senior team while undertaking a mentor role for all of the coaching staff at Pride in the set-up phase of the NPL competition and Western Pride FC.

Pride General Manager Pat Boyle spoke glowingly of Wehrman’s contribution to the club, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Kasey for all of his hard work and laying down a strong foundation for the club to build on in the future.”

“Pride fully support Kasey’s decision to return to Norway with his partner Anja as they have purchased a property which has expedited Kasey’s decision to move on a year earlier than the initial three year plan.’’

Boyle added that planning was well underway for the 2015 season and advertisements for the Senior Men’s Coach and Technical Director’s positions will be published shortly.

While keen to further develop his coaching career in Norway, where he spent eight seasons before returning to play in the Hyundai A-League with Newcastle Jets in 2010, Wehrman acknowledged the opportunities offered at Western Pride over the past two seasons.

“The club has been nothing but 100 percent supportive the whole way through,’’ Wehrman said.

“It’s been been a really tightknit club. I know it’s been a tough season this year but last year we had some good highs and some lows as well.”

“It’s definitely made me a better coach,” Wehrman added.

Pride finished their inaugural NPL Queensland season in eighth position, however this year sit in eleventh after recording their third win of the campaign on Sunday in Townsville against Northern Fury.

Pride host Brisbane City this Saturday night at Briggs Road Complex, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.