Dandy secure Beggs' return

By Joel Ritchie
Updated November 5 2012 - 11:26pm, first published November 19 2009 - 11:04am
Dandaloo coach Peter Beggs (right) and club president Tony Hutchison. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI
Dandaloo coach Peter Beggs (right) and club president Tony Hutchison. Picture: ANDY ZAKELI

Just when Peter Beggs thought he was out, Dandaloo pulled him back in ... with an offer he couldn't refuse.Godfather trilogy references aside, the master coach will return to the club he regards as family and guided to an Illawarra Premier League three-peat from 2005-2007.Beggs spent last season and the final six games of 2008 with Wollongong United but didn't plan on coaching next year until the defending treble winners came calling."They approached me at the end of the season, I wasn't going to do anything but when the phone call came I was surprised," Beggs said."I was prepared not to coach, I had told a couple of clubs I wouldn't, then this offer came up. "I didn't say yes right away, I wanted to make sure I wanted to do the job and they came up with the right offer."Beggs replaces Rob Birkin, who was sacked despite guiding the Lions to the first Illawarra league-cup-grand final trifecta in 15 seasons.He shied away from suggestions next year's edition would repeat the feats of 2009 and named securing a fifth premiership in six seasons the priority."If you coach Dandaloo there's always pressure, if you think you're going to win three trophies it's a big ask," he said."They did a great job last year and my job is to keep the club going forward."The league is the main thing, if anything else comes our way, fine, but this league is a funny one and the best players don't always mean the best results."Beggs expects most of Dandaloo's all-conquering crew, including George Naylor medallist Chris Jackson, Scott Chipperfield medallist Alvin Ceccoli, skipper Dave Kerr and grand final hat-trick hero Jason Kencevski to return.The only notable departure so far is Noel Spencer, who will be a player-coach at Dapto in 2010."We'll have to find someone to fill Noel's boots and that will be no easy task," Beggs said."You'd think we'd be one of the top sides."Former Port Kembla coach John Fleming has filled the vacancy at Wollongong United. Fleming guided the black and whites to second place in the 2008 league and grand final before being shown the door early last season.The 2007 Bampton Cup-winning coach will have a strong core at his disposal, with player of the year Giovanni Leuzzi, James Peglar, Sam Mehrkhavari, Marcello Guerrero, Jason Hilas and Daniel Schwarzer all committing to Macedonia Park for 2010.Former United mentor Bill Pilovski - who made way for Beggs late in 2008 - will coach Cringila.

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