South African Dale Harris appointed coach of Geelong Rangers

Nick Wade | October 30th, 2010

New Geelong Rangers coach Dale Harris will put faith in the club's young players to lift the club back up the grades of Victorian soccer.

RELEGATED state league club Geelong Rangers have secured South African soccer guru Dale Harris as their new coach for next season.

Harris, who coached division two club Ballarat Red Devils this season, has pledged a long-term plan and a faith in youth as he strives to rebuild the club after recent on-field struggles.

The Rangers have been relegated to State League 3 in the Victorian competition next year after a disappointing season punctuated by the loss of several influential players.

The 32-year-old career coach has vowed to bring a possession-based game plan centred on a tight defence, fitness and creative ball movement.

Harris' promising playing career in the South African premier division ended prematurely at the age of 23 when he was run over by a forklift, sustaining a serious leg injury.

He tried to return after a lengthy lay-off but found he was not the same player.

The injury forced him to turn his attention to coaching where he blossomed into a strong leader.

Harris replaces Rod van der Chys, who is considering a long overseas holiday next year.

"I've got a more long-term plan in place, the club has lost a few players and dropping down a league is not easy for anyone," Harris said.

"I'd like to rebuild the club and build a team that finishes in a reasonable position and look at challenging for success next year.

"If we win the league, or finish top-two next year, that's a bonus."

Rangers president Paul Millar said Harris edged out a strong field of about six candidates and had committed verbally to coaching the club long-term.

Millar admitted Rangers struggled to be competitive in State League 2 against clubs who "basically opened the cheque book" with large spending budgets in excess of $100,000.

"I spoke with (Harris) the other day and he's already had people ringing him from outside the club who are looking to know when training starts again," Millar said.

"Probably his first season (at the Red Devils) was a learning curve.

"Now he's seen the standard and seen our team a few times, he knows where we need to improve and wants to help a lot of kids develop."

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