Albury Thunder has asked for expressions of interest to replace first grade coach Adrian Purtell.
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The Border's only product to play at NRL level, Purtell returned to coach his junior club in 2018 after a 15-year professional career, but will step down after three seasons at the helm.
Purtell led the Thunder to one finals appearance in 2019, but could never have expected to face the challenges that followed, as COVID-19 ruled the Group 9 club out in 2020 and has hampered their 2021 campaign due to a host of restrictions on the border community.
Thunder president Rick O'Connell said Purtell revealed at the start of the year this would be his last season.
"I don't think anyone would have envisaged it would be as difficult as it has been during this period," O'Connell said.
"The end of 2019, we thought life would go ahead as normal, but it's been anything but that during that time.
"The way Adrian has kept our club together on the track participating, especially with the impacts we've had, has been fantastic."
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The Thunder has opted for a playing coach in recent times, but O'Connell hopes the best applicant will get the job, regardless of their playing status.
"We're hoping we'll get inundated with offers, but in the current environment, people are finding it very difficult to move around because you just don't know what's going to happen," he said.
"We're aware of that, so we'll just have to see how things go.
"We've discussed some of the options in trying to find a replacement and Adrian has certainly had significant input into the way we should go about things and we've taken that on board.
"He's got a business and I'm assuming he's staying in Albury, but it's up to him whether he's going to stay involved after such a long time in rugby league.
"He might want a complete change of scenery, but that's certainly up to Adrian to consider and decide."
Expressions of interest close on August 13, with O'Connell hopeful the position will be finalised by the end of the month or early September.
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