Werribee City’s game against Pascoe Vale will be its first in the NPL without coach Nino Ragusa, who has allegedly parted ways with the club after 20 rounds of the 2015 NPL Victoria season.
The departure comes on the back of a 5-1 loss to Melbourne Knights – the club’s heaviest defeat this season – leaving the club languishing in 12th position on the ladder with just two wins this campaign.
After a playing career that included Thomastown in the VPL, Ragusa was Arthur Papas’ assistant at Oakleigh in 2011 before brought in to replace Danny Gnjidic at Werribee City.
He steered the side from mid-table to State League 2 promotion, before being granted an NPL licence in 2013 after finishing runners-up to Heidelberg United in State League 1.
Despite guiding Werribee through the state leagues, he struggled to manufacture results in the NPL, narrowly avoiding relegation last season and once again battling near the bottom this year despite improved team performances.
Former assistant coach Agim Sherifovski also departed mid-season, linking up with Arthur Papas at Oakleigh Cannons.
Should the Bees finish in 12th place, it will have to beat the NPL 1 playoff winner to ensure survival in 2015.