Echuca United has parted ways with Farran Priest, the club confirmed via a statement on Wednesday night.
“The Echuca United Football Netball Club would like to acknowledge the contribution of Farran Priest on the role of senior football coach for the last two seasons,” the statement said.
“The new committee has made the decision to part ways and forge a new direction.
“On behalf of the committee, players and supporters at Echuca United, we thank Farran for his service to the club and wish he and his family the best for the future.”
Priest, who coached the Eagles to six wins this year following a disappointing three wins in 2022, said he was blindsided by the decision.
“The outcome of it all is a bit of a shock, I definitely didn’t see it coming,” he said on Thursday morning.
“That’s basically it, it sort of happened really quickly. I’m still pretty shocked and, I guess, confused in a way, but the only way I can look at it now is that when one door closes, another one opens.”
A member of Echuca United’s sole senior premiership side in 2013, the same year he won the Eagles’ best-and-fairest award, Priest had recommitted to the club for the 2024 season in August and was set to lead the senior side into pre-season training on Monday.
“I did the best I could in terms of what we had and to finish like that was not really part of the plan,” he said.
“The club was wanting to forge a new direction and I wasn’t a part of it, that’s just how it goes. I can’t do much about that and if I’m not in their plans, then I’m not in their plans, that’s just how it is.”
Echuca United president Peter Quanchi would not be drawn on further comment when contacted about the matter.
19°C