General News
10 September, 2025
Gone! Payne walks from Inglewood. It's a Fitzpatrick at Pyramid
INGLEWOOD football club has ended his two-year stint of the Blues after guiding the club to its most successful Loddon Valley finals campaign in more than two decades. The club made the announcement online at 8am today and followed growing...
INGLEWOOD football club has ended his two-year stint of the Blues after guiding the club to its most successful Loddon Valley finals campaign in more than two decades.
The club made the announcement online at 8am today and followed growing speculation that the Blues and Payne would part company.
In a statement, the club said: "The Inglewood Football Netball Club announces that Fergus Payne is stepping away from the senior coach role.Fergus joined the IFNC as assistant coach in 2023, a season in which our senior team participated in their first final for 20 years. He stepped up into the Senior Coach role in 2024."
Interim Blues' president Darrell Billett told the Loddon Herald that Payne had been offered a new contract last Friday but later advertised the club he would relinquish the reins.
Billet said the club was currently considering interrnal options to coach the club in its 150th year.
"We may also look further. While we advertise the position each year, there was an expectation in the football world that Fergus would have been re-appointed and they would not have bothered applying," Billett said.
"We have a good young group of players, we are close (to going further in future) and next year is a very important one for us. We want to get this right."
In its statement, Inglewood said:
"Fergus demonstrated his coaching ability by bringing the senior team together as a cohesive unit, with clear game plans and understanding of individual roles. A run of seven wins in a row at the latter half of this season was our best since 1987, and included our first seniors final win since 2003, followed by a second finals win the following week. Although defeated in the preliminary final by the eventual premiers, the excitement generated around the senior team this season has not been seen for some time and presents an ideal launching pad for our 150 Year celebrations in 2026.
"We would like to acknowledge and thank Fergus for his significant contribution to our club, both on and off the field, over the past threeseasons and wish him, Abbey and family well for the future."
The Blues have been through unplanned changes off-field in the past month with president Tim Birthisel stepping down for health reasons.
Payne's predecessor as coach and club legend Darrell Billett became interim president on the eve of the finals and former secretary David Rose returned to that role.
The club last month called for applications for coach in 2026, as required in its contitution to open the position every year.
Meanwhile, Pyramid Hill used the same timing as Inglewood announce Boort'sJarrod Fitzpatrick will replace the retiring Nathan Fitzpatrick as coach next season.
The Bulldogs said: "Jarrod brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the role, having spent the past three seasons at Boort Football Club, where he served as Assistant Coach and Captain for the last two years. His playing career includes stints at Golden Square and Division 1 North Heidelberg, showcasing his high-level football pedigree.
"A familiar face to many in our community, Jarrod grew up next door in Boort and knows our club and town well. His deep understanding of the region and its people makes him a great fit to lead our senior group."