Football: Baggetta sticks with Panthers

John Baggetta has committed to coaching the Carey Park league side for 2011 — his fourth consecutive year in the position.

The decision was something of a backflip from Baggetta’s initial post-season stance when he was coy about his future and allowed the club to advertise for the position.

He said the fact that many of the Panthers senior players intended to stay and play with the club in 2011 was influential in his choice.

‘‘Most of the guys were pretty keen to go around again, so that was probably the driving force behind it; knowing that most of the guys were going to hang in there,’’ Baggetta said.

‘‘The last couple of years, we won, then turned over 12 new players and won. That was amassive effort to turn over 12 players and go undefeated.

‘‘Then, from 2009 to last year we turned over 10 or 12 again, and to finish up where we did is a pretty good effort.

‘‘If you can keep your core together, you can be more than competitive.’’

Baggetta has formerly coached Bridgetown in the Lower South West Football League. He had a role at Bunbury and headed the Carey Park reserves in 2006 before moving to take the reins of the league side in 2008.

In other South West Football League news, Augusta-Margaret River coach Trent Carroll is yet to be replaced following his sudden resignation recently.

Carroll informed the Hawks two weeks ago that he would be unable to coach in 2011.

Margaret River football chairman Steve Cummings said the club was in the process of interviewing a number of candidates, including some from Perth.

The club is expected to make a decision in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Donnybrook have appointed Kurt Haunold as their league coach for the 2011 season.

Haunold has previously coached the club’s colts side.