Panizza re-signed

Royals president Barry Panizza has sent an early warning to his rivals, saying the Lions will be stronger next season following the re-appointment of Darrell Panizza as senior coach this week.

Barry said the club believed Darrell, who has also been elected as a life member of the club, was the best candidate to lead the Lions to premiership glory in 2011.

“We think we have got the best coach in the competition and his knowledge and experience and ability to develop youngsters is first class,” Barry said.

“If Darrell was coming to town, everyone would be chasing him profusely and I’m looking forward to his enthusiasm and ideas for the new season.

“We will be much stronger mainly because all of our youth from last year are a year older and a year stronger.

“(Also) one of our champion players in Leith Edwards will play again after a knee reconstruction and he would be a top recruit in any team.”

Barry said Darrell, the Claremont Football Club games record holder and WA Football Hall of Fame member, would look to add to his top record next season.

“This will be his 13th season with Royals and he has led the club to seven premierships and three runner-ups and you can’t get much better than that,” Barry said.

“The aim at Royals every year is to add another premiership.”

Barry confirmed the club had received a $27,000 grant from the Department of Sport and Recreation to upgrade the lighting at Centennial Oval.

Royals committee member Kim McIntyre said two additional light towers will be installed, while the light globes on the grandstand side will be upgraded.

“It will bring the ground up to training standard for half the oval and it will be upgradeable to play night football in the future,” he said.

Barry said the lighting upgrade would allow the club to train more efficiently next season.

Meanwhile, Former Fremantle Docker Heath Black has ruled out coaching Railways next season.

The 31-year-old had been linked to the Tigers job but told the Albany Advertiser he would coach Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault after guiding them to a premiership in the South West Football League in 2010.

“It’s too far for me to come and coach,” he said.