Rick Austen has been appointed as the Men's Premier League Coach for the South Lismore Celtics for the upcoming season.

Austen, will take the reins from Cameron Hyde who took the Celtics to the Major Premiership in 2019 and the Minor Premiership title and Grand Final in 2020.

Austen has a simple philosophy for the season ahead, "Cameron has developed a great culture and feel around the club and I want to continue what he has established."

Hyde did an amazing job at the helm of the Celtics since 2017, winning the First Division Minor and Major Premierships and earning promotion back into Premier League. He was voted as the 2017 FFNC Community Coach of the Year, the 2018 FFNC Premier League Coach of the Year and he was inducted as a South Lismore FC Life Member in 2019.

Cameron Hyde took the side to the Premier League Title in 2019. Photo: South Lismore FC

Due to ongoing health battles, Hyde has decided to step aside and spend more time with his young family.

"Cameron and I have come through a similar coaching background recently, both coaching with the Liverpool Academy, so I think we have similar styles."

The Celtics squad is relatively unchanged from 2020, with Patrick Kable the only significant change after injury his knee in the Grand Final against Byron Bay.

"Pat has agreed to coach the Championship League Team again, so it will be great to have him involved and around the boys."

"The squad is young and committed and willing to work hard, so I want to continue that development."

Former FFNC Coach of the Year Scott Collis has agreed to assist Austen and Kable, while Celtic legend Justin Marks will continue his goal keeping coach duties with the club.

Austen has a strong relationship with football, starting out with the Goonellabah Hornets in U/7's and finishing up with the club in 2000.

"After that I played for a few years with Italo Stars and Lismore Workers before doing my ACL 4 or 5 years ago. I then decided to have a run around with a few mates in 5th Grade for Souths last year and now the challenge of Prem's Coach."

Austen and the Celtics will hit the ground running, with a short preparation before the action heats up.

Rick Austen takes over from Cameron Hyde at the Celtics. Photo: South Lismore FC

"The whole football fraternity hopes that we can get a full season in this year. We are starting training this Tuesday and have three trial matches scheduled prior to the ANZAC Cup competition"

"The first trial is against Kingscliff on 6th February, followed by Coffs City United and Coffs City Tigers and then we are into the ANZAC Cup qualifiers."