Announcement of new Canberra United coach imminent

Photo: Canberra United's Season 7 coaching team; Raeanne Dower, Liesbeth Migchelsen, Aroon Clansey (L-R) 

Subject to Football Federation Australia (FFA) approval, Season 7 W-League Champions Canberra United are set to announce the appointment of a new head coach next week.

Despite claiming the club's second championship, Elisabeth Migchelsen departed in February, after two seasons with Canberra, to accept a position as Assistant Coach to the South African National Women's Football Team.

At the time of Migchelsen's departure Capital Football and Canberra United CEO Heather Reid stated that they would look to recommend the appointment of an Australian-based coach in the coming months.

This week a decision was made.

"The Board of Capital Football has signed off on a recommendation for an appointment," said Reid.

"The information has been sent off to FFA and we are just awaiting their approval."

If the appointment is to be Australian based as hinted at, then current Assistant coach and ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) coach Raeanne Dower would be the leading contender.

Dower has been a key figure in Canberra's success in the past two seasons as they claimed a premiership and championship during her time at the club.

The Queenslander has also played a central role in the development of the ACT's next generation of footballers through the ACTAS program highlighted by the emergence of Julia De Angelis and Grace Maher.

While Reid was coy on the appointment, she did state that the candidate had all the "appropriate qualifications" and the engagement was now "just a process issue".

Once finalised and announced the new coach and Capital Football are anticipated to secure the commitment of the majority of the Championship winning W-League side.

"Capital Football will work with the coach on players recruitment, and obviously we want to retain as much of last year's squad as possible."

Although Canberra have been one of the few clubs to remain relatively stable throughout the W-League's history, the retirement of Lori Lindsey as well as the normal women's football player attrition will ensure gaps in the player roster.

"We are definitely looking also for three top class internationals and maybe one or two players from interstate."