FARRER LEAGUE
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NEW Charles Sturt University president Tristan Robinson hopes the Bushpigs are closing in on a senior coach for next season after contacting more than 60 prospective candidates since July.
The Bushpigs are the only Farrer League club yet to announce its senior coach for next season after Brett Garrett decided to step aside after three years in the job.
CSU suffered a tough year on the field as it finished winless on the bottom of the ladder as it struggled to overcome the loss of 15 first grade players from the year before.
Robinson said CSU's recruiting committee has been on the front foot since July and hopes it is closing in on a new coach.
"We've definitely tried to be on the front foot, since July we've been actively looking to find a coach," Robinson said.
"I've spoken to, via either text, phone or email, 60 people, both locally and interstate.
"We've had a few people show interest and sat down and interviewed two or three people but for various reasons it hasn't come through.
"We're still talking to a couple of people at the moment ... and there is a couple of others from interstate potentially interested but it is a challenging situation."
CSU has spoken to both playing and non-playing prospective coaches.
The Bushpigs are also working hard to maintain its current playing group, headed by the likes of Wade Archibald, Clint Shields and Garrett.
An in-formal pre-season run before university finished for the year gathered 20 players.
"The fair majority have indicated they will hang around," Robinson said.
"We're fairly confident we'll maintain the list plus we've been actively recruiting as well.
"We've got a few handshake agreements in place, plus a few sitting on the fence until we appoint our new coach."
CSU has been working hard to move forward and is in the process of constructing fence signage at Peter Hastie Oval in a bid to provide sponsorship material and generate more income.
The club is also working to implement scholarship programs as it continues to focus on providing a sporting environment for students.
"From the outside looking in it might not look like much is going on but there is plenty of hard work going on behind the scenes," Robinson said.
"We're definitely excited for the 2015 season and what it may bring.
"We'll be back, we'll find a coach, the right coach and we'll build from that."