The Blue Heelers have this week announced that Phil Ingram will be taking over the men's coaching duties for the 2021 Woodbridge Cup season, after the club played in the mid-west competition throughout 2020.

Last year he was meant to play with Eugowra before Covid put an end to the Woodbridge Cup. He still managed to get a run out though, signing on for Burrangong in the Blumers Lawyers George Tooke Shield.

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He does have plenty of Woodbridge experience up his sleeve however, having previously played for and coached Grenfell during the middle of last decade.

He is hoping some of that experience rubs off on the Heelers youngsters.

"I just want to help blokes," he said.

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"They've had a youth league team there for a couple of years and they've got some solid young players and I want to help guide them.

"I've got a bit of experience behind me and hopefully I can help them out and put them in the right direction and we can go from there."

The Heelers last appeared in a grand final in 2017 with their last premiership coming three years prior to that after dominating the 2000s, with five titles in ten years.

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But bringing home the silverware isn't at the top of his priorities for this year.

Instead he is focused on developing his players.

"I just want to be competitive," he said.

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"If we make the semis that'll be pretty good. We've got to wait and see what kind of players we have.

"I know how some of them go because I've played against them the last couple years and only time will tell, but hopefully we can be competitive and give ourselves a chance."

To help him along the way, will be Ingram's brothers Steve and Sam, who the new coach says are all but Heelers now.

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"They've basically agreed to coming across," Ingram said.

"I've just got to sort out stuff with the club for them and it should be alright.

"Cargo's not really that far away from home and a bit of a change from Grenfell and a new challenge for me and my brothers."

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Ingram has still yet to meet his new team, but is confident that will change in the weeks to come.

"We've been talking about having a meet and greet maybe the first week in February, but I'm just waiting on them to get back to me with a date," he said.

"Hopefully we can do a bit of training in the second week of February and that gives us about ten weeks before the comp kicks off.

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"I just appreciate them giving me the opportunity to help out and for giving me the opportunity to coach again.

"The goal is to push for a semi-final spot and repay the club for having a bit of faith in me."

The 2021 Cup premiership will be contested by nine teams, with Molong, Manildra, Eugowra, Canowindra, Trundle, Peak Hill, Grenfell, Condobolin and Cargo all on board.

Last year's Woodbridge Cup was cancelled after only four teams expressed interest in playing.