A renowned rugby union coach who led the Geurie Goats to an unbeaten premiership win last year, Hausia has taken on the coaching role at Westside following the shock departure of Matt Naden.

Naden was named coach early in the off-season but met with the board in the last week to tell them he was not happy and struggling for support from the playing group.

He was granted his wish and allowed to leave, he is expected to link up with Cowra in Group 10, and Hausia was hastily named the new head coach.

This came not long after Hausia had been named president after a new employment forced Steve McLellan to give up that job just months into the role.

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Hausia, who won a premiership when playing with Westside in the 1980s, originally joined the board this year to help enforce a code of conduct and help improve discipline but suddenly he's got the two biggest jobs at the club.

"A couple of months ago we were talking and we were a real possibility of folding," he said of the turbulent off-season.

"We've got to make it work. I'm not the biggest rugby league fan but the reality is we need all sports and all codes to continue for our kids."

His rugby league knowledge might be lacking but Hausia has a proven track record of running things successfully and developing success.

A former president of the Dubbo Netball Association, Hausia in recent times has built the Geurie Goats from perennial wooden-spooners to one of the most dominant sides of any code in the region.

He will continue coaching the Goats as well as Rabbitohs in 2019.

"There's a disconnect now between some of the players and members and we've got to look at how we can rebuild morale," he said of Westside.

"The sport is what brings us here but we need that mateship and good atmosphere. I'm not saying it hasn't been at Westside but you've got to make a team a family and like a family you've got to have that trust.

"I instilled that at Geurie and it wasn't all about the sport but we brought blokes together to play as one and that doesn't change no matter what you play."

Naden's departure is another massive blow for Westside after it was also confirmed this week the club won't field an under 18s side in 2019.

But club secretary Brooke Mallison insisted there was no hard feelings towards Naden despite the sudden nature of his departure.

"We've got to look after player welfare and well-being and we can't have a captain-coach not happy with that support," Mallison said.

"He met with (Mallison's husband and club treasurer) Wayne and I and we didn't hesitate in letting him go. He was honest and up front about things."

Mallison also confirmed former NRL player and Dubbo CYMS captain-coach Joe Williams has also put up his hand to help out from time to time during the season.

Both Mallison and Hausia have spoken to the playing group in regards to this season and after such upheaval they've been upfront and said wins will be hard to come by.

The focus for them is getting through this campaign while continuing the progress and development off the field.

"It's going to be a tough season and we've made that clear," Hausia said.

"That's unfortunate but we're all adults and we need to stick together as mates and make it work.

"I've got to lead from the front."