By ADEM SARICAOGLU
AARON Symons has been promoted to manager of Green Gully after the Cavaliers decided to relieve club legend Jeff Fleming of the role last week.
Symons had been Fleming’s sideline assistant since the early stages of the 2013 season but the pair have now swapped roles, with Fleming still holding down the fort in Green Gully’s defence as an on-field assistant to Symons.
Football manager Raymond Mamo told Star the decision was made prior to Green Gully’s 5-3 defeat to South Melbourne last weekend, but insisted the club’s choice to relieve Fleming as head honcho was intended to ease the pressure on match day.
“It’s purely better for the future of the club because we feel at times it’s very difficult,” Mamo said of Fleming’s former dual role.
“Especially on match days, it’s not the correct scenario to be in. There’s obviously a lot of pressure in coaching and Jeff was obviously doing both.
“And to make decisions on match day while you’re playing and coaching is difficult, so that’s all it is.”
Symons’ tenure has been a difficult one so far with Gully suffering a shock 6-1 loss away to Oakleigh on Friday night.
However, Mamo and the club have thrown their full support behind their new manager and are confident he’ll settle into the role well.
“Aaron and Jeff work well together. There is a good partnership there and that will continue,” Mamo said.
“I’m sure Aaron will do well. It’s a shame that he’s had to endure these two losses, but he’s got the right attributes and he will make a good coach.”
The Cavaliers have suffered three losses on the trot since opening their National Premier Leauges account with a 4-0 thumping of newcomer Werribee City.
But despite having conceded 11 goals in two outings, Mamo said he did not believe his side was out of form and was caught short with an undermanned line-up on Friday.
“I really wouldn’t say that we’re badly out of form,” he said.
“To be fair I thought we came out and probably dominated the first 15 minutes of the game. Jason Hayne could’ve easily scored and there was a great first-time volley for Mathew Sanders that was on target. It would have been a fantastic goal.
“We did create and we did have chances to go up – so I thought our first half performance was a lot better than last week against South Melbourne. But (Oakleigh) scored then got another one and then the defence obviously fell to pieces from there.”
