The coaching shocks just keeping coming in the PS4 NPL Tasmania with Hobart Zebras FC officially announcing that Peter Savill has stood down as the head coach following their 3-2 defeat at the hands of South Hobart yesterday.

The reigning NPL TAS coach of the year who had taken on the Zebras senior role at the start of the season, said that the reason for his shock departure is that he no longer had the passion to perform the role.

He released the following statement to the club and its supporters explaining his decision.

“I would like to thank everyone involved at Hobart Zebras. From the players, to the coaches, supporters and the committee, I thank them for all their help whilst I was at the club.” 

“It is with great disappointment that I hand in my resignation but I am ‘Done’. I have been going in football since I was 10 years old and I’m done.”

“I knew yesterday when we lost the game and the result didn’t hurt me that I had reached the end. I have no excuses and I really should have informed the club four weeks ago.”

“I went home last night and waited until this morning, I let the chooks off and took it out on my garden instead, but after I had given it more thought I just knew I was done.”  

Hobart Zebras President Nick Di Giovanni thanked Savill for his work at the club this season and said the search for the new coach was already underway.

“The club will wishes to thank Sav for all the hard work that he has put in. We recognise that is not easy travelling to Hobart from Launceston 3 times a week with about 20 hours travelling involved.”

“He has achieved a lot in football and whilst sadly today he has called it a day, there is no ill will and he has wished the club well in the future. Likewise we wish Peter all the best for his future endeavors.”

“The club has some important fixtures in the next two weeks with Launceston City away this Saturday and Olympia in the Lakoseljac Cup Semi Final in a fortnight, so obviously the club is on a search for a new coach. In the immediate future Romeo Frediani and Sergio Pace will be looking after the team at the training session on Tuesday night.”

Savill’s tenure at the club, whilst short, was a successful one. With his final coaching record reading six wins, three draws and one loss from ten competitive games in charge. He also guided the club to silverware in the pre-season as he helped them claim the NPL Summer Series trophy.

The departure comes as a massive blow to a Zebras side that despite yesterday’s setback looked firmly in the title race and have a Lakoseljac Cup Semi Final coming up in 2 weeks time. With the coveted FFA Cup awaiting the winner the pressure is on for the club hierachy to find a suitable replacement sooner rather than later.