Hockey: Towns likely to stay as coach as bosses look for local talent

By TERRY MADDAFORD


A backflip by New Zealand Hockey Federation bosses could return Kevin Towns as coach of the national men's side.

Towns came back from the Athens Olympics ready to devote his energies fulltime to his role as the association's high-performance manager.

He had also agreed that, if required, he would stay with the New Zealand team in the interim after their top-six finish in Athens and subsequent Champions Trophy qualification.

Now, it seems, he is likely to turn his back on the high-performance role and keep hold of the coaching reins.

The national association called for nominations, attracting widespread interest - including some from overseas - but it now appears the preference is to go with a local coach.

"I'm certainly not done and dusted in terms of my enthusiasm," said Towns. "The players seem happy. When we have changed the coaching staff the team has taken time to recover.

"Now, I feel they want to appoint a coach with the assistant being primed to take over when the coach steps down. We could, perhaps, use two or three assistants over a two-year period."

Towns' assistant, Charlie Oscroft, has retired.

"Ideally, any appointments should be made before we go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in December," said Towns.

It is understood four or five applicants who met the September 30 deadline have been sent information packs.

The applications will now be considered by the NZHF's high-performance committee, headed by former national coach Keith Gorringe and including association chief executive Ramesh Patel, Tur Borren and Chris Bullen.


The new coach should be known by October 17.

Towns rejected any suggestion that one person could juggle the team coaching and high-performance roles.

"The association needs to appoint a high-performance manager who will work with both national team coaches," said Towns.

"I did the high-performance role on a part-time basis for six months. It involves a lot of work."

Towns has cut his ties with his former employer and is now working fulltime for the association.

The next few months will be busy for the men's and women's teams.

The women play their Champions Trophy tournament in Argentina next month.

The men are in Pakistan between December 4 and 12.

Next year's Champions Trophy tournaments - in which New Zealand will play if they finish in the top five this year - will be in November-December.

It is then planned to play four-nation tournaments (men/women) in New Zealand in February 2006 as preparation for the March 15-26 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

They will be followed in April by World Cup qualifying tournaments in China (men) and Spain (women).

The 2006 World Cups will be played from September 6-17 in Germany (men) September 27-October 6 in Spain (women).