Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Albert Perez/Football Queensland

With the season only a week away Moreton Bay United have finally confirmed that 2015 Assistant Coach Dave Harris has been promoted to Head Coach for their title defence.

The appointment sees the former Jets assistant replace Adam Piddick in charge of the senior team following Piddick’s move to the Technical Director’s role at the end of last season.

Harris has been part of Jets’ coaching team since their inaugural season in 2013, coaching the Under 15 and Under 16 boys before moving into the senior set-up last year.

Preparing for his first Head Coach role in the national second tier competition, Harris conceded that the weight of expectation to replicate 2015’s successes is real - but added his team is using that as a driving force in their title defence.

“To repeat what we did last year would be fantastic but we don’t so much feel the pressure from outside,” Harris explained.

“We are motivated to do well and that puts pressure on ourselves because we have certain expectations about what we want to achieve.”

Harris’ appointment was part of an announced overhaul of Jets’ coaching set-up across their Men, Youth Men and Under 18 Boys teams for 2016 that sees Harris and Piddick assisted by Billy Ingledew and Danny McHenery.

Harris added that he expects a smooth transition into the new role and described Piddick’s role as TD as “very supportive”.

“Adam and I have similar ideas and philosophies and we work very well together and that’s already been reflected in the squad where they pulled together and it translated into results and performance.”

Piddick said he was excited by the potential of the new coaching set-up to deliver greater continuity in the team’s development of playing talent.

“This will give Moreton Bay United an identity through the way it plays, our unique style of play,” said Piddick.

“We want this style to go from the juniors right up to the seniors. Ultimately, what we want running through the group is home-grown players.

“In five or six years we’d like everyone to have come through this system,” he concluded.

Moreton Bay commence their PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Queensland Premiership and Championship title defences next Saturday against Brisbane City.

PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues 2016 – Round 1
Saturday, February 27
Brisbane City FC v Moreton Bay United FC
Corporate Travel Management Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off at 6:30PM