Essendon has appointed Valeri Stoimenov as its new weights coach. He replaces Glen Turner who recently deaprted Essendon to take up the head fitness job at Melbourne. Since leaving his native Bulgaria to come to Australia in 1990, Stoimenov has worked at the South Melbourne Soccer Club, Hawthorn Football Club and been a lecturer for the Australian Strength and Conditioning Association for the past three years.

Stoimenov has a Bachelor of Sports Science & Coaching and a Bachelor of Physical Education, both of which were obtained at the National Sports Academy in his Bulgaria. During the eighties, he was both a professional handball player and subsequently a coach, before coming to Australia.

""Valeri will bring to the club training expertise across a number of fitness areas, which will compliment our future fitness programs as we move into the 2005 pre-season,"" Essendon football operations manager Dom Cato said. ""He has a wealth of experience and we think he will be of real value to the club.""