BEN Lavars has given Maryborough plenty of time to get on the front foot in search of a new coach for next year.
Lavars has announced he will be finishing up as Magpies coach at the end of this BFNL season, with the club having begun the process of searching for his 2020 replacement.
Lavars, who relocated from Geelong, is in his second season as coach after last year taking on one of country Victoria's toughest coaching gigs given Maryborough had won just one game in the previous three years.
"It's purely a family decision. I'm from Geelong and that's where my wife (Taylar) and three-year-old son (Lucky) have stayed, so it's time to head home and spend some time with them again," Lavars said on Thursday.
"With the decision not to continue as coach after this year, I wanted to give the club enough time to set themselves up to get the best coach possible.
READ MORE - Maryborough season preview
"When I took over, it was a month after the season and it was really hard to get players to commit. Hopefully, if we can sign someone before the season ends it will allow the club to build on the work we've done over the past couple of years."
After just one win in Lavars' first season at the helm last year, the Magpies already have two victories on the board from their first seven games this season and have a winnable opportunity on Saturday against Kangaroo Flat at Dower Park.
As well as the two wins, the Magpies also gave reigning premier Eaglehawk an almighty scare at home in round three when they led for the majority of the day before going down by 16 points.
"This job for me was a chance to rejuvenate my love for footy and it has definitely done that," Lavars said.
"There's still a chance that I might stick around and support the club as a player next year, but we'll have to work through that as a family.
"There's a long way to go in the season and, hopefully, we can keep improving and it's very attractive for someone to come on board and take over."
In advertising the job, the Magpies say they are looking for a "passionate, organised and dedicated coach to develop a young playing list."
Expressions of interest close on June 30.
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