Search for
Search for
Search forAdmirals set to lose Perry
Saturday, August 02, 2008, 07:00
Perry, who has been with the Admirals for 13 years as a player and a coach, said he wanted to concentrate on personal plans, part of which involve moving to the United States.
The former England international lineman admitted leaving the club was a tough decision to make.
But he said: “I have dedicated a huge chunk of my life to the Admirals and in different circumstances I would love to carry on doing that.
“But I informed the committee at the start of the year I would not be around for 2009.
“I've got personal plans I've been putting on hold while I still had commitments with the team.
“The truth is they can't wait any longer and I am moving to the US in a few weeks.
“I could have gone earlier in the year but I felt strongly that I wanted to finish the season before moving on.
“It's for that reason that my main focus at the moment is our upcoming fixtures.”
Admirals were today hunting for a new head coach as the club prepared for tomorrow's home match with Hampshire Thrashers at Parkway Sports and Social Club (2.30pm).
Perry, who was head coach for six years, began with the Admirals as a much feared defensive player in 1996.
After taking the role of defensive co-ordinator in 2001, the opportunity to progress to head coach arose after the 2002 season.
He inherited a squad decimated by retirements in a particularly tough Conference.
In 1999, while studying at Plymouth University, he founded and coached the Plymouth Blitz collegiate side.
Perry added of his time with the Admirals: “Sometimes in sport you need patience and overnight turnarounds are rare.
“It took a while but we have certainly made strides recently as a result of the work we put in several seasons ago.
“That's not just limited to the Admirals senior side. It very much includes the club's work with the youth side and the Plymouth University team.”
Perry left the Blitz after their most successful season in 2005, when the time constraints of working with both Blitz and Admirals became too great.
Admirals general manager Sam Holder-Mark, who has worked under Perry since 2000, said: “He is one of the most dedicated people I've ever met – his impact on the sport has been colossal.
“He's a big character whose enthusiasm is infectious.
“The number of players who have been introduced to the sport by him must be huge and many have gone on to play at regional or national level.
“His will leave massive shoes to fill. The whole American Football community wish him well in the future.”
A quartet of additions to the Admirals defence will be in action tomorrow.
Linebacker Mark Stevens and defensive back Adam Dabbs have previously worn the Admirals shirt, while defensive lineman Chris Watts and Paul Carwithen will play their first games for the club.
Anyone interested in the vacant head coach role, or any other coaching positions on the team, can contact the Admirals committee at plymouthadmirals@hotmail.co.uk or on 07780 717752.
Comment on this story