West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich predicts he will by vying with Michael Voss for a senior coach's berth in 2011.

Voss turned his back on becoming the inaugural coach of the new Gold Coast franchise yesterday when he announced he would join West Coast as an assistant coach until 2010.

Sumich, who has been John Worsfold's right-hand man for the past seven seasons, today expressed interest in becoming head coach of the new franchise - currently known as GC17 - when they enter the AFL in 2011.

But he conceded Voss may well end up vying for the same spot.

"In years to come where he wants to coach or tries to coach depends on what jobs are available and whether that's me and him going for the same job, we'll wait and see," Sumich said today.

"That's fine and I understand the situation.

"I'll put my hand up (for the Gold Coast gig in 2011) but at the end of the day I know it's a long shot.

"I think it's run by the AFL and they're probably going to put a development-type person in there for the next couple of years and the job will be up for grabs in a couple of years.

"I suppose the number one contender will be Michael.

"I think he's a certainty to get a spot down the track ... his on-field antics as a captain of Brisbane were terrific and that's probably why he wants to tinker with coming in as an assistant's role (at West Coast) and seeing what he needs to do and grab from that to go forward."

AAP