TULLIBIGEAL Lakes United president Colin Ward has predicted the Sharks will have a new first grade coach within a week after the shock departure of 2012 leader Anthony Chambeyron.
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Chambeyron announced on Monday he had signed on to coach Group 9's Temora Dragons next year.
The decision forced the club to cast a wide net to replace the coach who led the squad to its first grand final since 1989, but Ward said he was confident of finding its next leader soon.
"Anthony is going to be hard to replace but we're hoping to sign a coach in the next week," Ward said.
"Anthony has done a great job, not only on the field but off as well. We did know he was going to do that (sign with Temora) and he goes with our support."
Wagga-based Chambeyron said it was a difficult decision to make but the long commute and his love of Group 9 had won out in the end.
"It was a tough decision to leave, they're a great bunch of people and it did take a bit of time to weigh up," he said.
"But the commute, 40 minutes compared to two hours 40, was a determining factor it was best for my family and business.
"Being involved in the Kangaroos for sometime previously, it is exciting to go back to Group 9 and I see it as a personal challenge as well.”
Chambeyron made the move to TLU in 2011, where he was assistant coach to Jaden Kelly before taking on the main job this year.
“I’m very thankful for the opportunity TLU gave me and I had some successful years with the guys out there,” he said.
“It was a good team that had potential and I think I brought in some self-belief and professionalism and got them playing as mates.”
Chambeyron hopes to replicate the winning formula he brought to TLU at his new club and said his years at the Sharks helped shape him as a coach.
“In some ways Temora now is what TLU was like when I first went there,” he said.
“They’ve got the talent there they just need to get back to believing they can win.”
Chambeyron believed his absence from the Sharks wouldn’t hurt the Group 20 powerhouse and said they still had the potential to take home the silverware next year.
“I hope I’ve left enough of a legacy there to keep that winning spirit alive,” he said.
“TLU has got too many good young kids to be taking a step back and they’ve got that self-belief and determination to take the next step.”
While Chambeyron will be busy with his new club, he said he still hoped to support the Sharks next year.
