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UPDATE: SRECKO Baresic says he can hold his head high after his shock departure as coach of Bendigo City FC.
Barisec, who only joined the National Premier Leagues division two club last August, offered his resignation on Sunday night.
He blamed a fallout with some unnamed members of the committee for his decision to quit the club he led for the last time last Saturday in a one-all draw against Richmond SC at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve.
Baresic claimed a decision to bench players, who had either missed or arrived late to training sessions and team meetings, had not sat well with those players and some committee members.
He said when advised on Sunday night that two senior players had threatened to quit the club following disagreements over team selections, he offered his resignation.
But Bendigo City FC president Robyn Williams denied any suggestion of friction between the former coach and committee.
She also rejected claims the committee had sought to influence team selections.
"The committee was united as one and the committee never interferes in the football stuff, as in what happens on the pitch," Williams said.
"The committee operates at a strategic level; we have other people who operate at an operational level.
"As a committee we don't take personalities or emotions into it the senior boys that we have we have the utmost faith in and we do whatever we can to make sure they are supported in the right environment to play at their best."
Bendigo City has announced former Bendigo Bombers general manager Peter Lodewijks as interim coach.
He will be backed by assistant coach Simon Horne, who previously played in the Queensland Premier League competition.
They will join under-20 coach Grant Lane and under-18 coach Joseph Fallia in guiding the club's senior squad program.
"Peter provides a solid experience base having been brought up in what is arguably the most famous football development academy in the world, Ajax in Holland," Williams said.
"He went on to play professionally in Holland before emigrating to Australia."
Baresic, a former Melbourne Knights assistant and youth mentor in the late 90s and early 2000s, who also coached in Germany and Bosnia, became Bendigo City's fifth coach in four years when he signed last year.
A real estate agent in Melbourne, he travelled to Bendigo four times a week for training and on game-day.
He guided the side to four losses and a draw to start the season, but felt efforts to improve the team were hampered by some players unwillingness to follow team rules.
"Before our last match I had six players come to the change rooms extremely late, so I couldn't put the best line-up on the pitch," he said.
"I put some extremely young boys out there and we still managed to force a draw.
"I had two of my more experienced players continually being late without communication, which gave me a good reason to put them on the bench, but they complained to the committee after the match."
Baresic, who has held roles at state league clubs Maribyrnong Greens, Heatherton Unted, Western Eagles and Heidelberg Stars, said his decision to resign was made in the interest of keeping the players in Bendigo.
While naturally gutted not to be able to seet he job through, the former coach said he had been heartened by texts and mesages of support from many among the playing group and club supporters.
UPDATE: Bendigo City has released an official statement, wishing former coach Srecko Baresic the best in his future endeavours following his shock resignation on Sunday.
The club has also announced Peter Lodewijks as interim head senior coach and Simon Horne as assistant coach.
The statement from club president Robyn Willliams reads:
“Bendigo City FC wish to advise, that senior Coach, Srecko Baresic-Nikic, offered his resignation to the club on March 6.
“Looking ahead for the 2017 season the committee continues to be enthused by this senior squad of talented young players, which includes a large contingent of home grown talent as well as committed and talented footballers from further afield.
“In line with our goal to provide avoid relegation and a clear pathway for the development of talented footballers in the Bendigo area (and beyond) we need to ensure our senior squad remain well supported.
“Therefore as we continue our march on 2017 we will immediately appoint Peter Lodewijks as interim head senior coach and Simon Horne as assistant coach.
“They will join under-20s coach Grant Lane and under-18s Coach Joseph Failla in guiding the BCFC Senior Squad Program.
““Peter provides a solid experience base having been brought up in what is arguably the most famous football development academy in the world, Ajax in Holland.
“He went on to play professionally in Holland before emigrating to Australia.
“Simon Horne will provide strong guidance and support to Peter, Grant and Joseph and the senior playing group.
“Simon played Premier League Football in Queensland, captaining the side, before moving to Bendigo.
“These new arrangements will provide an excellent environment for our playing group to development and achieve our goals in 2017.”
EARLIER: Bendigo City FC is on the lookout for a new coach following the shock resignation of Srecko Barisec on Sunday.
Barisec, who joined Bendigo City last August, offered his resignation during a conference call with club committee members.
He blamed a fallout with some unnamed members of the committee for his decision to quit the club he led for the last time last Saturday in a 1-all draw against Richmond SC at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve.
Barisec claimed a decision to bench players, who had either missed or arrived late to training sessions and team meeting, had not sat well with those players and some committee members, causing dissension between coach and committee.
The former Melbourne Knights assistant and youth coach was the club's fifth coach in four years.
The resignation could not come at a worse time for Bendigo City FC.
The club is anchored to the bottom of the NPL2 West ladder with three losses and a draw ahead of a clash against fifth-placed NPL2 East division team Goulburn Valley Suns.
Bendigo City FC has been sought for comment.
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