The O & M are yet to appoint a coach, after choosing not to advertise for the position.

The league has instead opted to target people it believes will be suitable for the job.

Former interleague coach Tossol says it's vital the league gets it right.

“There's a hell of a lot of work to do after last year,” he said.

“We should be performing far better, there's no question about the talent we have in the league.

“Last year set the competition back a long way.”

Despite the setbacks, Tossol said the league had the right approach in conducting its own search for a coach.

“Generally I don't think you get the right person for this job by advertising, so I think they're on the right track,” he said.

“They need to find someone who is determined to see the Ovens and Murray succeed.

“That person needs to be highly respected, someone who can get the best players playing.

“Players can sense very quickly how organised and serious a coach is about this team.”

Despite the season starting in less than two months, league general manager Aaron McGlynn was unfazed about the lack of a coach.

“We've still got a good amount of time before the season starts, we aren't worried,” he said.

“The last thing we want to do is rush into it, we have to have the right person for the job.

“We came close to signing someone in January, but they pulled out.

“At the end of the day, there isn't much the interleague coach can do until the season starts.”

Controversy surrounded last year's interleague match against Peninsula, which the Ovens and Murray lost by 10 points.

Then interleague coach Brendan Fevola was spotted roaming Dean St in the early hours of the morning before the match, after a league-sponsored pre-match dinner.

Fevola stepped down as coach after the loss, which cost the O and M a shot at the number one rank this year.

The former Carlton star's appointment in 2013 went against the recommendations of a review conducted in the wake of the league's previous loss to Peninsula, which held that the interleague coach shouldn't have involvement at club level. 

Tossol said it was an idea the league needed to stick to this time around.

“You need to be at arms length as a coach,” he said.

“There needs to be something between you and the players.”

The Ovens and Murray will face off against the Hampden league in Warnambool on May 23.