Danny Ryan resigns: VFL club Frankston Dolphins to have new coach and CEO for 2024 season

Ryan, Frankston’s coach since 2019, phoned players over the weekend to tell them he was stepping down and informed the club on Monday.

Last week he had told CODE Sports he wanted to continue, preferably for two years to build on the work of this season.

The Dolphins finished it at 4-14, feeling the loss of a group of leading players from 2022, including captain Josh Newman, former AFL trio Taylin Duman, Josh Begley and Tom Murphy, Bill McKay, Liam Hiscock, Sam Fletcher, and draftees Brodie McLaughlin and Liam Reidy.

The club has brought in former North Melbourne forward and AFL assistant coach Donald McDonald to help football director Steven Icke assess the year and report to the board.

The Dolphins have confirmed their coach for 2024 will be full-time.

It’s understood the selection panel will include McDonald and former St Kilda senior coach Grant Thomas.

McDonald met Ryan last Tuesday.

Since then Ryan has formed the view the Dolphins are looking elsewhere.

“We always want to win more games,’’ he told CODE Sports when asked how he marked his team’s season.

“We had three close losses – three points, two points, one point – and I think there was an eight-point and a 12-point in there as well.

“There were significant (player) losses from the year before plus a lack of fitness in the pre-season from some of our better players … with the youth we brought in, the results are probably about right.

“It would have been nice to play a bit better in some of the other games, the Port Melbourne game and the Williamstown game. Goalless quarters have hurt us throughout the year.

“It’s fair to say when you lose Josh Begley, you lose Liam Reidy to Fremantle and you lose Brodie McLaughlin to Gold Coast, and Bailey Lambert rarely played without being wounded, our front half had some significant issues.

“Our midfield and our clearance work were pretty good. There’s opportunity in the youth that came in and showed us what they can do, and there’s disappointment in the fact we didn’t win some of those close games and finish a bit higher on the ladder.’’

Ryan said player retention as much as recruiting needed to be a priority for the Dolphins.

The club has already announced the re-signing of young players Lochie Reidy, Jesse McManus, Trent Marotta, Justin Davies, Ben Hempel and Darcy Gilbert.

Referring to the likes of Trent Mynott, Will Fordham, Ryley Stoddart, Kai Owens and Connor Riley, Ryan said Frankston had a “stable and invested and committed senior core, but they need a bit of support’’.

“We need to recruit some guys to help them and keep building,’’ he said.

“I’m definitely keen to stay on board and do that, and with where things are at it would have to be for two years, to be honest.’’

The Dolphins have already changed another key position, appointing Fraser Bayne as their new chief executive.

He has replaced Adrian “Rocky’’ Lloyd, who is returning to Melbourne Victory.

Bayne, a former CEO of Mornington Racing Club and a director at O’Brien’s Real Estate, started last Friday week.

In a statement, Frankston president David Friend said Ryan had “chosen not to proceed with negotiations as the club seeks a new direction and transitions to a full-time head coach’’.

“This decision has not been taken lightly and is a result of a comprehensive football department review undertaken by the club and will result in restructuring our VFL football department,’’ he said.

“It is an exciting time for the Frankston Football Club as we now look forward to creating a more professional football environment for our players and staff to thrive. The stability created off the field has allowed the club to seek a full-time head coach and continue to create an environment where we can drive elite standards for all our players and staff.

“Creating accessibility to expertise full-time allows players to maximise their talent and get the most out of their football. The board believes we are ready to contend in the VFL competition and we will continue to strive for excellence in one of the toughest competitions in Australia.

“We have commenced the process of identifying a new head coach, a decision that carries immense weight for our future. A panel of esteemed football experts has been assembled to oversee this transition, ensuring our choice aligns with our aspirations.’’

Friend praised the contribution of Ryan, saying his “presence and influence were undeniable, transforming our football department’s culture and creating a pathway for playing talent to the AFL.’’.

He highlighted that five players had been drafted after spending time under Ryan at Frankston.