The Gold Coast SUNS have confirmed its panel to assist in identifying a new Senior Coach.

Chief Executive Mark Evans outlined the panel in a letter to members on Friday.

Evans will lead the panel and will be joined by GC SUNS General Manager – Football Operations, Marcus Ashcroft.

Former Adelaide Crows Senior Coach, and most recently Director of Coaching, Development & Performance at the Carlton Football Club, Neil Craig and Bastion EBA Chief Executive, and former Western Bulldogs Chief Executive, Simon Garlick will be on the panel along with Matti Clements.

Clements is Director and Senior Psychologist at Mental Edge Consulting, an organisation the GC SUNS contract, that specialises in team and organizational culture, wellbeing, performance enhancement, professional development services and support systems for high performance sporting organisations.

Evans said the panel would oversee the first phase of the Senior Coach selection process.

“While the panel’s role will not be to select the coach, it will however be required to challenge the thinking and assess the applicants in what will be the first stage of the process,” Evans said. 

“We thought it was important to bring in fresh sets of eyes and Neil brings coaching experience to the panel, while Simon has been through the process previously, leading the Western Bulldogs selection process in 2014.

“Matti and Marcus are part of our football program and have great knowledge as to what we need in the role going forward.” 

The Senior Coach will be appointed after the Gold Coast Football Club’s Board ratifies a recommendation from Mark Evans.