St Pats will have a new leader at the helm this season, although it won't be Jake Laskey as originally thought.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club have announced Jake Lowe will take over as senior coach with Laskey set to chase his State League dream.
"With the uncertainty of the NTFA getting away, Jake [Laskey] has brought forward his plans of trying out at state level," president Ian McCallum said.
"Jake Lowe has been appointed as interim coach and will coach the club for the 2020 season in whatever form that will be.
"We are confident that we will be in a position around mid-July to announce the coach for 2021."
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
The coaching shift puts an end to the succession plan put into place late in the 2018 season, as Laskey co-coached last year alongside Alex Russell before being set to go it alone in 2020.
A former student at St Patrick's College, Laskey played in three premiership-winning sides at South Launceston before making the move to St Pats, playing in green and gold for two seasons.
"Obviously I've made some pretty good mates up there and still have mates up there but sometimes you've got to be a little bit selfish with your footy because I know in five years time if I look back and didn't have a crack at State League, I would be kicking myself," Laskey said.
"I know St Pats will be there forever and be a good club forever, so it will be easy to either go back there or continue with my footy elsewhere."
Previously coaching St Pats for three seasons, resulting in a 2015 grand final berth, Lowe returns to the club off the back of experience at Hillwood and thanked Laskey for his professionalism.
"He gave ample time, we worked together contacting players, I'd contact them after he did and he let me know over the weekend," Lowe said.
"Jake's only 26 and had a couple of really good years at St Pats and before that, some really good years at South so he needs to take a shot at the higher level to see how he goes.
"If he doesn't like it, or for some reason he doesn't make it, it would be great if he could come back to St Pats."
Subscriptions are available here.
Sign up to our Sport email here.