“The way Raoul Ehren left leaves an unpleasant taste”confides our consultant Emilie Sinia. “It leaves a feeling of unfinished business. He left his position without providing feedback to the group and to each girl following the Games. He didn’t even see the girls one last time even though they deserved this final reunion. He broke his contract to leave like a thief. His choice can be understood, but the manner leaves something to be desired.”
Faced with a fait accompli, Adam Commens, High Performer manager, and Serge Pilet, CEO of ARBH, are playing for time. Instead of reconstituting the organization chart as quickly as possible, they preferred to leave themselves four months to avoid a casting error. “I appreciate this wise attitudeadds Emilie Sinia. Having Tim White step in is a good decision because he knows the girls and how they work.”
But according to some voices that come from the group directly, Tim White does not have the T1 profile that the Red Panthers need today. As the federation refuses to poach a coach under contract, the list of candidates is dwindling. Several profiles are required. The eternal Pascal Kina would do this group good. The Ghent coach, who had already coached the Panthers a decade ago, will not be Raoul Ehren’s successor. He is engaged on other fronts. The other Belgian is Xavier Reckinger. The former Red Lion, who already coached the German women’s team, has left his position on the Red Lions staff. “For the moment, I am no longer committed anywhere”confirms Xavier Reckinger who has other professional obligations until 2026. “You are Adam (Comments) calls me, I will listen.” He would have a conscience between his current commitments and the desire to manage the Belgian national team. Sofie Gierts, who succeeded in her challenge at Uccle Sport, is a most credible candidate. The timing seems interesting for the former Red Panther.
Serge Pilet could be tempted by Alyson Annan who led China to the final of the Olympic Games, but his salary expectations reach six zeros according to some sources.
Time is slowly running out. The Chinese epic will provide the latest information to the Commens-Pilet duo. If everything goes well on the sporting and human levels, the White-Bisley-Baart trio will certainly be carried over to the Euro. “The main thing at the moment is that the girls maintain their physical qualities. They will not lose their hockey in a few months. The future trio must above all be complementary”specifies our consultant. You need one who manages analysis and tactics, one who manages communication and one who is a good coach. T1 must stay above the fray.”
The Red Panthers have progressed enormously under the leadership of Raoul Ehren, going from a team worth a top 10 to a top 4-5. The potential has not yet been fully exploited. The next four years were to be those of the medal harvest with the coach from the Netherlands. “I’m not worried. We have three years to develop this rejuvenated team which must not minimize the departures of Barbara Nelen and Aisling D’Hooghe. It is clear that the future T1 must have a particular affinity with the training of young people. “A lot of girls have to learn physically, tactically and mentally.”concludes the one who hopes that “the cinema around the guards” belongs to the past.
The current staff
T1 Tim White
T2 Darran Bisley
T2 Jeroen Baart
Physical trainer Hannes Agache
Goalkeeping coach Glenn Faveyts
Physio Valentine Smith
Physio Ellen Jacobs
Manager Muriel Peche
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