Suns coach Dean Cachia feels it’s time for a new voice to lead the Western Football League division 2 club heading into the future.
Cachia, who took over as coach in 2019, decided to step away from coaching at the end of this season.
While he will remain at the club as a player, Cachia is content with stepping away from leading the club.
“I told them a couple of months ago,” he said. “With work commitments and family… It’s been six years, going on seven years.
“I need to take a step back and enjoy the last couple of years being able to just play.”
Cachia said the club always told him the role was his until he didn’t want it.
He said everybody has a use by date in football before they get a little stale.
“We were still able to play finals and we played some good football towards the end of the year.
“To continue to improve going forward, we need a more experienced coach and I can just focus on playing and having fun.”
Cachia said he steps away from coaching happy with how he has left things and the club in a better place.
A division 3 premiership in 2023 is the highlight on field in that time.
This year the Suns exited finals in the first week.
Cachia said it had been a different year playing against the top sides in division 2.
“We played finals which is where we wanted to be,” he said. “The last few years all our losses have been two to three goals.
“We haven’t been beaten by 100 points like this year. Newport comprehensively beat us in the final.”
Cachia said one of the most pleasing things was he gives up the role knowing the club is in a better place than when he took over.
“When I took over at the end 2018, we were staring down folding,” he said. “We claimed the minor premiership in the Covid year, lost a grand final in 2022, won a grand final last year and made division 2 finals this year.
“I’m proud that we are in a much stronger position.”
