Words: Staff Writers
Image: Albert Perez/Football Queensland

PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s Grand Final coach Gary French has been confirmed as the new Technical Director and Women’s coach at Souths United.

French guided Palm Beach SC to the end-of-season decider as senior women’s coach at Palm Beach SC earlier this year and served as assistant coach of the inaugural PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s Select team that faced Brisbane Roar’s Westfield W-League squad a fortnight ago.

French’s appointment comes as Souths seek to turn around a disappointing 2015 campaign that saw the club amass just the solitary win in their first senior season.

However, French said he was confident the building blocks are in place for Souths to build into a force in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s competition.

“I’m looking forward to a new challenge in my career and after talking with Paul (Lonton) and Tracey (Confessore), hearing their vision for the girls/women’s program it was an easy decision to work with them,” French explained.

“The facilities are first class and I’m excited to help the club become one of the best in Queensland.”

Souths United President Tracey Confessore said the appointment was a demonstration of Souths fulfilling a promise to implement a strong coaching structure.

“This is the start, and I look forward to the next few weeks for the continuing positive shift and atmosphere mounting at the club, as trials commence and the coaching staff is rolled out,” she explained.

“We are building the excellence of the Souths United football program and our commitment to women's football.”

“We are both excited and proud with the direction being taken and the pedigree of coaching that is joining us in our journey to be the club that others want to be at or aspire to,” Confessore concluded.

French is expected to assert his influence over the club’s player selections almost immediately, with trials commencing this week.