Football: All is revealed at Railways

Railways have announced former club players Tim Alvin and Kim Mayfield as co-league coaches for the 2011 season.

The close friends, who combined to coach the Tigers league side in the mid-2000s, believe the dual coaching role will work to the club’s advantage as it attempts to break a 25-year league premiership drought.

“Tim and I have got a very good relationship and we think about football the same and have the same goals that we want Railways to achieve,” Mayfield said.

“We thought if there were two of us we would be able to get double the workload done in talking to the colts players, up-and-coming kids, reserves players knocking on the door and league players already established,” Alvin added.

Tigers president Max Sims said the dual coaching role was a decision made more by Alvin and Mayfield rather than the club.

“It was more their decision and they wanted to come as a pair, so to speak,” he said.

“Kim has a rich history with Railways and will bring a lot of experience to the job and Tim is enthusiastic and has a good 8rapport with all the players.”

Mayfield played more than 200 league games for the Tigers between 1980 and the early 1990s and has already had three separate coaching stints at Railways.

The 50-year-old, who led the 8Tigers to two league grand finals at the turn of the millennium and has also coached the GSFL Landmark squad, dismissed suggestions there was a culture problem at the club, but conceded something needed to change.

“I don’t see it as a culture thing… I think the main thing is they need to stop using bad luck as an excuse for losing,” he said.

“There is no such thing as bad luck in football and they need to take the opportunities when they come.

“That is up to the players to decide and if we can coach them into recognising that then maybe they will take the opportunities.”

Alvin, who played for Railways between 1995 and 2001, is hopeful the club can maintain the majority of its core group despite Nick Sas and Ben Spencer headlining a list of senior players unlikely to play this season.

“Hopefully we can keep the main core together and we are very keen to bring the younger kids up,” the 36-year-old said.

“Kim and I are very passionate Railways people, who are keen for on-field success.

“I don’t know if that is making a grand final, winning a premiership or just seeing the playing group improve as the year goes on.”

The Tigers began pre-season on Tuesday.