WINNING over kids to soccer as well as success for Murray United is the dual objective for the NPL club’s newly appointed technical director Paul Millynn.
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The fledging licence holder in Victoria’s NPL will field at least eight teams in the competition next year — and Millynn’s immediate job is to make that happen.
Along the way he will develop a MurrayRoos summer soccer program and push to get the world game further into Border schools.
Millynn, a longtime Diamonds player and recent president, was yesterday announced as the successful applicant for the position.
At the same time the club unveiled its logo.
“I’m excited, nervous, anxious, all those things,” Millynn said.
“We have at the moment eight coaching positions and almost 40 applicants with still a week before the close of applications — some of those are from here, others from elsewhere, even a coach with a professional A licence.
“My role is to be something these coaches have never had before — a sounding board, someone who can help organise and tailor sessions, provide feedback — it’s not to coach.
“We’ll set the framework for success with structures and it will be the coaches jobs to implement that in their own way.”
Murray United director and part of the selection sub-committee Darren Yates said Millyn was the best candidate for the position.
“The board has full confidence in his ability to deliver and excel in the role” he said.
“Not only does Paul bring 40 years of experience in the game to the table but also an incredibly vast knowledge of the region.
“This is the kind of person we want to help build this club.”
Millynn has downplayed his ties with Diamonds.
“This is a job to develop the sport I love, give young players a pathway to the elite level of competition including the A-League and beyond,” he said.
“Having been involved in soccer as a player, coach and club president for as long as I have, I understand how critical the NPL and Murray United is for the region.
“We are now equipped to develop our local players to a level never seen before.
Board director David Pendleton said the Murry United logo, developed by the Border’s Dutch Media, set the club apart from its rivals.
“We wanted something that spoke of tradition as well as the future,” he said.
“We think our logo stands out from the rest of the NPL clubs and believe our supporters will be proud to wear it any day of the week.
“It captured the essence of Murray United in an incredibly thoughtful and interesting way”.