Tasmanian football club coach charged with rape

A former northern Tasmanian football coach has been charged with three counts of rape, leading to the resignation of the football club's president.

Police confirmed a 44-year-old man from northern Tasmania had been charged with the offences that were alleged to have occurred in April last year.

The man is believed to be former Bracknell football coach, Josh Adams.

He is scheduled to appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court early next year.

In a statement, Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA) president Peter Gutwein said the association had recently been informed that a coach had been charged with "a serious criminal offence".

But he said the NTFA would not provide further comment as the matter was now before the courts.

News of charges being laid against Adams were first published by an independent media outlet.

Its reporting detailed private messages exchanged between Bracknell Football Club president Nicole Jones and the mother of Adams's alleged victim

Yesterday, Ms Jones announced via social media that she would be "standing down as president and all official club duties with immediate effect".

"I acknowledge that what I said [in the messages] was disrespectful, inappropriate and wrong, and I unreservedly apologise for these comments,"

she said.

In his statement, Mr Gutwein said the league was "deeply concerned" by the content of the private messages.

"The NTFA has referred the matter to the AFL for independent consideration and acknowledges that the President has unreservedly apologised for those comments and stood aside from all official club duties with immediate effect," he said.

"The NTFA recognises that individuals who report allegations of sexual violence must be treated with dignity, compassion and respect."

Adams had not re-committed to coaching Bracknell as of last month.

It is understood he has since been stood down from the role, and will be replaced.