South Hobart coach Peter Edwards will take charge of rival club Clarence Zebras’ NPL men’s team next season, a day after announcing he would leave his current club.
Clarence Zebras FC announced the appointment after South Hobart said on Thursday that Edwards would depart at the end of its Australian Championship campaign to pursue a new opportunity.
The Zebras finished fifth of 10 in this year’s NPL.
Edwards’ South Hobart won the NPL Championship and the NPL Finals Series.
Last month, the club became the first Tasmanian side to win a match in the Australian Championship, beating Brisbane’s Lions FC 2-1 away from home in round one.
The national community club competition effectively serves as soccer’s second tier, between the A-League and the state leagues.
Before moving to Tasmania, Edwards worked in the academy systems at Sydney FC and Central Coast Mariners, including coaching Sydney FC’s Under-18 side. He joined South Hobart for the final three games of last year’s championships after former coach Max Clarke left.
Clarence said the appointment represented “an exciting next chapter” for its senior men’s program as it looked to build on its own results in 2026.
“We believe his experience, football knowledge and commitment to player development will be valuable in continuing to raise standards, strengthen our playing group and establish a program that our players, members and supporters can be proud of,” the club said.
In South Hobart’s announcement, Edwards said he was “incredibly proud” of what the club had achieved.
“From winning the NPL Championship and Finals Series to carrying that momentum onto the national stage and securing a historic victory for Tasmanian football against Lions FC, it’s been a remarkable season and one I’ll always look back on with immense pride,” he said.
His focus remains on the rest of the campaign.
“We’ve achieved something special together this season and I’m determined to see it through to the very end,” he said.
South Hobart said its search for a new head coach would start immediately.
The team plays Lions FC again on Sunday at 3pm.
