Penrith Nepean United parts company with Ian Gillan as Ante Juric appointed new coach

The agreement was mutual between both parties as Gillan took over the squad at the start of the TeleChoice Premier League season after coaching the likes of clubs such as NSW Super League clubs St George Saints and Fraser Park.
Penrith Nepean United owner Joe Meissner stated the club made the decision about the Scotsman after a recent run of poor results which has seen the team plummet to eleventh place.
?It wasn?t easy to do especially with myself and Ian being close friends however we weren?t getting the results we needed.
?We simply do not want to finish on the bottom of the ladder and run the risk of being relegated so something had to be done.
?The agreement was very amicable and I know I will have a position for Ian if things happen for us should we feature in the A-League in the not too distant future.?
Meissner stated to Football NSW that Juric was the obvious choice as the former Socceroo defender has heralded a colourful history as a player but wanted to kick start his coaching career.
?For me Ante stands above as a person who knows the team really well and I can sense he is a coach for the future.
?This is a great step-up for him to hone those skills and for him to climb that ladder as a coach.?
The 35-year-old has already commenced his coaching career as he was appointed as the new Under 13?s Australian coach earlier this year.
He was also the Sydney FC assistant coach for the Women?s A-League side but to have been given a role in the TeleChoice Premier League was something the ex-NSL could not pass up on.
?It wasn?t under the best circumstances in getting this job as I am close with Ian but obviously it?s been seen as a good step in furthering my career as a coach.
?I know we have seven weeks to turn things around and to get the best possible results in climbing up that ladder once more.
?We have 2 first team players returning to the squad from long term injuries so that should steady us a bit.?
His agreement will still see him play for the side with an assistant set to be announced shortly.
Juric has labelled the round 17 clash against fellow struggles Wollongong Community FC on Sunday as a must win for the club.
?We have to do well in all grades it is a straight forward as that.
?Hopefully we can notch up a victory and continue building on that till the end of the season.?
Gillan was not bitter about his departure from the club and wished Ante all the best for the rest of the season.
“I was close to Ante and I believe that he will do well in the coaching scene.
“I wish him all the best with what he does this season,” Gillan stated.
Asked whether he was still going to be around the coaching traps the Scotsman replied.
“Of course I want to stay involved. Coaching is a passion of mine and I would like to be amongst it someway.
“We will just have to wait and see at what level.”
Penrith Nepean United became the fifth TeleChoice Premier League side to have changed their coach since the start of the 2009 season as Bonnyrigg White Eagles, Sydney Olympic, Sydney Tigers and Wollongong Community FC have also had a change of coaching management.
-By Mark Stavroulakis