Football: Talented trio to back Rovers coach

Chris Greatholder (left) and Bill Roberston have ended their potent coaching alliance for Central League this winter for the Rovers. PHOTO/FILE

The potent coaching alliance between Bill Robertson and Chris Greatholder is over after the latter switched his allegiance to another club.

Robertson is returning this winter to the helm of the Napier City Rovers' flagship team for the Lotto Central League campaign.

However, Robertson will have the backing of three other Computer Care Hawke's Bay Premiership mentors - Stu James, Perry Cotton and Marty Akers - who are moving up two levels.

The Englishman, who has signed another contract for the Central League and Chatham Cup campaigns, says James will still coach the premiership team but also have a taste of the elite league.

"Perry Cotton was working with the Prems last year as well so he'll help with Central League as well," says the 32-year-old, who emphasises Cotton, like Akers, is a former All White.

Cotton - who has served as assistant coach with Hawke's Bay United - and Napier Marist coach Akers are former National League and Chatham Cup title-winning players with the Blues.

"Perry is a former professional so there's no questions about his experience.

"Marty, from the years gone by, will come back and be involved as well."

Greatholder, a former Bay United coach who created history in leading the franchise to its maiden playoffs appearance, has accepted the role of mentoring the Havelock North Wanderers, who had policeman Bruce Barclay at the helm last season in the Lotto Federation League, which is a tier below Central League.

"We will obviously miss CG, who will be a huge loss, but we've rallied to try to fill that void with a few other people who can step in."

Overall, the introduction of Bay premier coaches is aimed at creating a level of continuity and a reservoir of talent that the flagship team can rely on in case of injuries and player unavailability during a hectic season.

"We also want to create a pathway from the youth players all the way to the prems and then into Central League."

He suspects Greatholder, who has a young family, opted to go down to Fed League because of time commitments and to avoid travelling during a Wellington-heavy Central League.

Robertson, who captains Team Wellington in the Stirling Sports Premiership, says he always intended to return to the Rovers, whom he led to a Central League crown in 2015. That season the Blues accumulated a record 49 points and goals scored (80).

The former Capital Football Coach of the Year, in his fourth Blues stint, also led the team to a Chatham Cup semifinal in 2014.

While listed as player/coach this season, he prefers to spend more time on the sidelines with a clipboard.

"I think it's difficult to do both [play and coach]. It can be done but it's not ideal because you need to dedicate yourself to being either a coach or a player."

No doubt, slipping on the boots will depend on how the squad fares.

"I'm still enjoying playing national league," he says, keen to regain the Premiership title and then focus on the Oceania Champions League campaign.

Robertson says the Rovers are bracing themselves for a few changes in personnel while they plan and recruit.

"We'll lose a few players and there will be a few more coming in," he says, believing 30 per cent may leave.

"The Central League continues to get stronger as a competition so it is excellent for the club and region that Rovers consistently compete with some of the largest and most successful clubs in the country."

He will be announce his squad in the middle of next month, with their season kicking off on April 1.

The Blues start their pre-season against Wanderers on March 4 in a midday kick-off at Guthrie Park, before the teams face off again at Bluewater Stadium on Saturday, March 18, in a 1pm kick-off.