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England

The 43-year-old maestro is heading for a new life on the Gold Coast of Queensland, handing over control to Danny Hall.

Jennings had three spells at Guildford, the third and longest being when he returned to coach in 1991. His 14-year period saw him inspire, cajole and bully his charges from Division Two South to EHL Premier Division One, guiding them to the top four and a place in the Super Cup earlier this year.

He said: ?It?s been a wonderful time at Guildford and I will miss the people at the club terribly. I?m very proud of what we?ve achieved but I think the time is right for me to follow new opportunities in business and hockey which are open to me in Australia and which are there for me to expand on.

?I?m going into an area which has huge potential but lacks direction, which reminds me of Guildford 14 years ago.?

Playmaker on the pitch and industrious off it, Jennings is justifiably proud of moulding a team into being among the best in the country, able to rub shoulders with the likes of Reading, Cannock and Surbiton.

Rather than pick on individual triumphs like reaching Europe or a string of indoor successes, he is most proud of welding disparate players into a cohesive unit.

?Seeing players develop way beyond their own potential and moving from regional hockey to the highest level has been the most rewarding aspect,? he said. ?Their hard work and desire to learn matched with my ability to be specific in their structure has worked well and it gives me a huge buzz when watching them progress.?

Jennings, who was injured while fighting in the Falklands in 1982, was awarded a military MBE for his fitness work with the army three years ago.

Although he has coached the England U21 and U18s at men?s level and been senior assistant coach to the women?s side, he has never been a favourite of the hockey establishment and admits: ?I don?t doubt that I will continue upsetting people along the way. But in this country we struggle with honesty and openness whereas the Austr-alians seem to take it on the chin and still have a tinnie afterwards.?

Clearly Jennings, the highest scorer in the history of the English Hockey League with more than 270 strikes, will be missed on the field too, not least his almost telepathic relationship with three-time Olympic forward Hall, who will be assisted by Anthony Falkus.

His final appearance came in the Super Cup against Loughborough in May, when he admits he was struggling with a knee injury which later required surgery.

He added: ?Guildford have come a long way. We were still playing at Park Barn when I came back but the legal abilities of Hamish Ferguson, some of my drive and determination and some incredibly hard work by so many people at the club have established us a top-class base at Broadwater.

?I was really proud of the way we staged the Super Cup. The support that Tony and Pam Hall and Dick Wright have given over the years has been immense. There has been an enormous effort by all the teams in the club to put us on the hockey map.

?I?ve loved our tussles with the top teams in the country, who have got much greater resources in terms of squad numbers and everything else.

?I hope Guildford go from strength to strength under Danny and Anthony. They have got a structure and discipline there for them and a refusal to lay down and die and now it?s up to them to take that forward.?

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