Former Stawell coach Jamie Solyom will come on as co-coach. Assistant coach and co-captain Damian Joiner will step up alongside Solyom.

Stawell Football Netball Club president Tim Williams said the club and Macaffer had differing views of how to manage the team.

“The Stawell Football Netball Club has come to an agreement that Colin Macaffer will no longer coach the senior football team in 2018,” he said.

“Both Col and the club have different opinions of which direction the club should take this year.

“With making this decision early we believe this will give the club the best chance of moving forward this year.

“We thank Col for his efforts this year in what has been a difficult preseason and start of the year and we wish him well in the future.” 

The decision to stand Macaffer down comes at a turbulent time for the Warriors, with their injury list piling up and offseason recruit Jack Anthony sacked from the club following an off-field incident which occurred at the Easter weekend.

Williams emphasised the decision to part ways with Macaffer was totally unrelated to Anthony’s dismissal.

“This decision has absolutely nothing to do with Jack Anthony and the club parting ways,” he said.

Macaffer joined the club in December. He said he has “no hard feelings” about the decision.

“I’m not totally devastated, just a little bit disappointed I didn’t get much of a chance to make an impact," he said.

“I understand that the club is always bigger than the individuals. The club has decided to back their players which is definitely fine.”

Macaffer said the club has been placed in a difficult situation in recent weeks and hopes they can come out the other side stronger.

“With a few injuries and players leaving the club it has put the depth of the group at a level where it will be tested. I wish them all the best for the season,” he said.

Solyom will coach the Warriors for the first time since 2013 this Saturday when they take on Lake Wendouree in a practice match at Ballarat.

“The club has had a tough few weeks and asked me to help which I am more than happy to do,” he said.

“Football is an easy game, we will just have to keep things simple to improve.”