West Coast assistant coach Peter Sumich says he is comfortable with Michael Voss' arrival at the club despite predicting they will be competing with one another for a senior coaching berth in 2011.

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

Sumich, who was interviewed for both the Essendon and Melbourne coaching vacancies last year, on Friday expressed interest in becoming head coach of the new franchise - currently known as GC17 - when they enter the AFL in 2011.

"In years to come where (Voss) 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.

"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 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."

Sumich will relinquish his midfield responsibilities to Voss next season but the three-time Brisbane premiership captain and Brownlow Medallist will be guided by Sumich for the first 12 months.

"He's a rookie coach, you've got to understand that ... so he comes into the frame with new ideas, but ideas he's got to learn off us as well that we've put in place for the last seven or eight years and we are tinkering with," Sumich said.

Voss said he was eager to learn all he could under Worsfold.

"I couldn't think of anyone better to learn off," Voss told 6PR.

"The great thing about leaders is knowing when to lead and knowing when to follow.

"We tend to think leadership is all just about staying out in front and showing people a direction.

"You know what it is about sometimes? It's about shutting up, learning, listening and taking direction off somebody else when they know a little more than you.

"So from that perspective that's something certainly John Worsfold brings in spades."

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