HAMBURG COACH RESIGNS ON EVE OF NEW ELF SEASON
The Hamburg Sea Devils have taken a late hit in their preparations for the new European League of Football season, with head coach Shuan Fatah leaving the club just days before their Week 1 trip to face the Madrid Bravos.
Fatah and the Sea Devils mutually agreed to end their relationship following weeks of intensive analysis into the club’s sporting and strategic direction. During open and constructive discussions, it became clear that the two parties had very different ideas regarding the team’s future development and, in order to make necessary structural changes and provide stability for the franchise, a joint decision was made to split.
Lee Rowland, previously the team’s offensive coordinator, will take over as sporting director with immediate effect, ensuring some degree of continuity for a franchise looking to bounce back from successive losing seasons. The British football veteran also brings over 40 years of experience on both sides of the Atlantic. With Lee Rowland, an experienced and highly trusted coach takes the helm. Rowland has been part of the coaching staff as Offensive Coordinator for the past few months and enjoys great trust within the team and the staff. As well as working with the Sea Devils, Rowland’s résumé includes spells with the London Olympians, German league sides Hamburg Blue Devils and Berlin Adler, and Austria’s Swarco Raiders, and boasts a glut of national and international titles, including five Austrian Bowls and the Eurobowl.
“Lee represents competence, experience and leadership, and we are grateful to have such a distinguished and reliable coach from our own ranks in this key role,” Sea Devils GM and managing director Mark Weitz commented. “Our thanks also go to Shuan Fatah, whose work has been extremely valuable to us, both personally and athletically.”
Rowland and the Sea Devils kick off season five of the ELF with a tricky visit to the Madrid Bravos on Saturday 17th May.