Jason Akermanis has revealed he had an informal chat with Wodonga about replacing Zac Fulford as coach.
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Akermanis was appointed coach of North Albury in 2013 and coached for four seasons before stepping down.
The Brownlow medallist has had little involvement in football since leaving Bunton Park.
"Wodonga weren't approaching me to coach but it's fair to say they were sounding me out about the job," Akermanis said.
"As they should.
"We spoke at length about the competition and where they are at, where they are going and where I'm at.
"It was great to have a chinwag and I haven't really been approached by another club since I left North Albury.
"For the first time since 1996 the club is looking to appoint a coach from outside the club.
"Whether it be by accident or design they have appointed within for about two decades."
IN OTHER NEWS
Darren Denneham who coached the Bulldogs from 1996 to 2000 is the most recent coach who was appointed after not having previously played for the Bulldogs.
Since then Leon Higgins, Richard Bence, Craig Cleary, Jarrod Twitt, Dean Harding, Ben Hollands and Fulford are all former players who went on to coach the Bulldogs.
Akermanis said he wasn't interested in the coaching gig because he planned to relocate in the coming weeks.
"I couldn't commit to the job, simply because I won't be here," he said.
"Maybe if they had approached me a year ago it would have been something I would have considered.
"But so much has happened this year to everybody with the coronavirus and everything has changed and it has been a crazy time.
"Without going into too much detail things have changed on a personal level and hence I'm moving.
"I enjoyed my time at North and living on the border was a great experience.
"There has been both good times and bad but a lot of fond memories."
