Club statement - senior coach

The OTGAFC would like to provide an important update regarding the senior coaching position of our men’s Premier division team.

After a disappointing start to season 2021, the OTGAFC and senior coach, Bernie Dinneen, have parted ways, effective immediately.

Bernie’s passion, commitment and enthusiasm in his time at OTGAFC has been unwavering. We sincerely thank him for his on-field leadership of our Senior side and wish him and his family well. Bernie will always be welcome at OTGAFC, and it must be noted and appreciated that he has volunteered to provide a smooth transition this week to the next senior coach.

As a Club, we are fiercely determined to do everything in our power to quickly develop our next set of players that can help us challenge for silverware. While this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, the Club believes this is the right time for change, for both now and the future. This change allows us to be even more invested and aligned in this strategy thereby accelerating the development of our football program in 2021 and beyond.

With that, we would like to thank James Francis for agreeing to step up from senior assistant coach to our interim senior coach for the rest of the season. James will be assisted by current assistant coaches and all will be supported by our OTGAFC director of coaching, Paul Griffiths, who joined the Club at the start of the season. We wish James every success.

Bio: James Francis – Interim Senior Coach:

2011 – 2014 - Gippsland Power Football Club Under 18 Boys – Assistant Coach
2015 – 2017 - Marcellin Football Club – Senior Assistant Coach
2019 – Present - Old Trinity Football Club – Senior Assistant Coach

We would like to reiterate that this decision was not made lightly, but we are passionate about our path back to the top. These changes have that, and only that in mind.

As always, if anyone in our OTGAFC community would like to discuss this further, I am available at any time – 0413 014 389.

Neil Bowman

OTGAFC President