NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) coach for Northern NSW, Wayne ‘Sully’ O’Sullivan, is preparing to take the helm as coach of the Westfield W-League Newcastle Jets in the second year of the new national women’s football league.
NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) coach for Northern NSW, Wayne ‘Sully- O-Sullivan, is preparing to take the helm as coach of the Westfield W-League Newcastle Jets in the second year of the new national women-s football league.
O-Sullivan replaces Gary Phillips who led the Jet-s W-League side to finish second on the table in their inaugural season and a home semi final at EnergyAustralia Stadium where the Jet-s were upset by Canberra United 1-0 to miss out on a place in the Grand Final.
A former UK championship player, O-Sullivan-s playing career included eleven years in the UK in Championship, Division 2 and Cup Clubs including Swindon, Cardiff and Plymouth, then onto a five year stint in Australia playing in the NSL and A-League along with a six month period in Asia in the Singapore S-League and Asian Cup.
O-Sullivan-s recent coaching career included time with Central Coast Lightening and Wellington Phoenix as assistant A-League coach, with his recent role as NSWIS Coach.
Leading Institute programs alongside Craig Deans as well as ex international and former W-League Jet player, Joey Peters, O-Sullivan is now also coaching the Newcastle Jets W-League side, with the season kicking off on Monday 5th October.
One of O-Sullivan-s main objectives for the squad is to instil the professionalism of a fulltime professional club while balancing work and study commitments of the players to improve the competition.
The NSWIS program acts as a competitive field for O-Sullivan to select players from, while others have come from the local Herald Women-s Premier League and also other interstate squads.
“We-ve opened it up locally and nationally and we-ve really tried to enhance that competition,” said O-Sullivan.
O-Sullivan-s expertise in the football world is set to boost the Jets- season on their endeavour to repeat last year-s feat of becoming a Top 4 side and the chance at winning the Grand Final to become Westfield W-League champions.
