Andy Paine says he feels energised as he embarks on his next adventure as head coach at the South Coast Flame.
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Just days after departing Helensburgh, having safely navigated their first season back up in the Illawarra Premier League, the NPL NSW club announced on Wednesday night that Paine would take the reins from caretaker coach Jason Spencer.
Paine will take charge of the Flame's NSW League Two Men's campaign in 2024.
"I've been watching the Flame from their inception and I've always thought that it's a wonderful thing for the Illawarra to have a second State League side to bridge the gap between the IPL and NPL1 which is a pretty high level," Paine told the Mercury.
"It's something that I've always wanted to get into and it's something that has arose as an opportunity."
One of Paine's long-term goals is to get the Flame promoted up to the next division, which is something that he has great experience in.
He guided Bellambi back into the IPL in 2020 after they were named District League champions in 2019, before moving on to become head coach at Helensburgh.
After claiming last year's District League championship, the Thistle returned to the IPL in 2023, where they finished mid-table by season's end.
"It's the goal for any club to get as much success as they can. Certainly for the Flame, they're ambitious and they want to get the senior side up in line with their youth team, which is a league higher," Paine said.
"It's not immediate, as in set in stone as something that we have to achieve right now, but it's something that we're working towards."
While excited about his new chapter, Paine admitted that it was a bittersweet decision to depart the Thistle.
"It was a hard decision, mate," he said.
"That team has a lot of guys that I'm really good friends with and that club's in a really good position. In all honesty, I think it's the biggest Premier League hot seat to be in. It's a really supportive club that's heading in the right direction.
"I wasn't looking too leave or anything like that, it doesn't popped up as an opportunity. I had got my licenses over the past couple of years with an eye to get into the NPL at some stage.
"It just seems like the right time to do it."
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Joshua Bartlett
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
A sporting fanatic who is keen to promote all codes in the Illawarra and abroad. Mercury's chief football reporter.
