High-profile Brisbane Strikers assistant coach Graham Harvey has announced he will part ways with the club ahead of the 2014 National Premier Leagues season.

The former Whitsunday Miners head coach, who journeyed south from Mackay to be assistant to David Large with Strikers last year, has decided to move on to pursue a head coaching role.

Large, now the Strikers’ technical director, said this week the Strikers had wanted to retain Harvey as assistant to new head coach Chay Hews, but understood Harvey’s reasons for leaving.

“One thing that has to be said is that myself and the club are very disappointed to lose someone of Graham’s ability and the contribution that he has made in the time that he has been with us,” Large said.

“We’ll certainly miss him, but we respect his decision and we obviously wish him all the best.”

“We know that whichever lucky club is going to get him will be getting not only an “A” licensed coach but one with fantastic values, qualities and one hundred percent commitment”.

Harvey said he had agonized over the decision to leave the Strikers.

“It was not an easy decision and one that I thought long and hard about over the Christmas break”, the Watford-native explained.

“To leave a club like the Strikers is very difficult but I am an ambitious young coach and I feel that to progress I have to look elsewhere” 

Harvey explained that the Strikers challenging 2013 campaign had taught him much about being a coach in the National Premier Leagues.

He cited season ending injuries to key players Matt Thurtell and Josh McVey, and the mid-season departure of captain Nick Robinson, as “unique challenges”.

“You always learn the most in times of adversity, so 2013 will have been my most valuable season to date”, Harvey explained.

“Being an assistant was a rewarding experience as I was exposed to many different challenges to that of a head coach.

Harvey further explained: “At times it becomes a strange position to be in when you conduct a training session.  You know that the players are more concerned with what the head coach is thinking so I gained a better insight into the motivations of players and the learning needs of each individual.

“It also has allowed me to know in the future exactly what the role of the assistant in my teams will be,” he added.

Harvey also made it very clear he was leaving on good terms with Hews, who is set to embark on his first campaign as head coach.

 “I would like to place on record my thanks to Chay for showing belief in my coaching ability”, Harvey affirmed.

“It would have been easy for Chay to want new staff, but he made a point of wanting to me to stay. “

“For him to state that he was impressed with my football knowledge and tactical awareness was certainly very nice to hear from a player with such a pedigree,” he concluded.

Kenny Armstrong will replace Harvey as assistant coach to the Strikers senior men’s team.

 

Words: Steve Pitman (Brisbane Strikers)