Smith Departs Hawks
Holland Park Hawks Coach Anth Smith took charge of his side for the last time on Saturday in their 2-0 home defeat to Lions FC. Smith, who made 20 appearances for English club Sunderland in the 90s, embarked on a coaching career following injury enforced retirement from playing at the age of 24. The older brother of former Hawk Dan Smith, Anth arrived at Whites Hill Reserve following Ben Ryan's move to Peninsula Power and helped steer Holland Park to the top of the Flight Centre Premier League table after five rounds.
But a host of personnel changes and injuries at the club has seen them slide down the ladder in recent weeks with their finals hopes now hanging in the balance. Ironically, it was his brother Dan’s departure to rivals Peninsula Power that triggered changes at Whites Hill Reserve and has perhaps proven to be the influencing factor in the side's slide down the table. Equally as big a loss for the Hawks was the departure of influential play maker Luke Carr, a player Smith has coached since junior level, who returned to the UK last month so he could be involved in pre-season with non-league club Morpeth Town AFC, as well as a long term injury to Andrew MacAskill. However, the squad changes and injury list, which have undoubtedly proved a frustration, are not the main reason for Smith’s departure. Visa issues, primarily the changes to the 457 visa, have forced the hand of the experienced coach who has coached in the UK at a handful of clubs such as National League club Gateshead, as well as at Sunderland's youth academy set up. Smith laments, “It’s not to be visa wise. Even though I’m qualified to work at a higher level, I’m not qualified to work here in Australia which I find quite bizzarre, especially with the rulings of the FQPL for next year; there’s a shortage of coaches.” He added, “I’ve cut my time short here as I’ve got offers from professional clubs in Thailand. It’s my livelihood at the end of the day so that’s why I’ve gone early.” “I have meetings there over the four days I’m there. We’ll see what the discussions come to, and I’ll make a decision from there.” Smith praised his players for their effort, “Fair play to the lads, they’ve given us the effort and that’s all I can ask for at the end of the day.”
Highly experienced coach and current Hawks Youth Technical Director, Joe Fenech, will take over first team coaching duties for the remainder of the season, with the side sitting in eighth on the Flight Centre Premier League ladder and 5pts off the top four with four league games remaining and a Round 5 Pig ’N’ Whistle Canale Cup tie away at Toowong coming up.
