An Augusta Lynx fan shows support for new coach David Wilkie (left) with a sign. MICHAEL HOLAHAN/STAFF

The Lynx fired general manager Derek Bundy, removed Jim Burton as coach and installed him as GM, then promoted David Wilkie to be the fourth head coach in the club's five-year history.

Six months after retiring as a player, Wilkie made his coaching debut Friday night against the Charlotte Checkers at the Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center.

Wilkie also assumed the role of director of hockey operations, while Burton will continue to play a role in player personnel decisions.

Former Lynx defenseman John Whitwell was retained by Wilkie as assistant coach.

"This is something that had to be done," Lynx minority owner Mark Vieira said. "We have to change direction of this organization. We've got to start winning games and we owe it to the fans and the sponsors to do whatever we can."

After a tumultuous first month of the season - the Lynx stumbled to a 3-7-0 record and suffered a 19 percent drop in attendance - Vieira and majority owner Peter Gillespie agreed earlier this week that an overhaul was needed to get the team on track.

Wilkie, played eight professional seasons, including 167 games in the National Hockey League. He retired last summer after playing with the Lynx and became one of Burton's assistantsto begin his quest to become a head coach.

At 28, Wilkie becomes the ECHL's youngest current coach and the second youngest coach in the league's 15-year history.

"I'm sorry this happened for Jimmy because he's a great person, but I think it's a good opportunity for him in the GM capacity," Wilkie said. "I'm also very excited. I never dreamed at 28 I'd be a head coach, but I'm ready to go."

Despite an influx of young talent from a new affiliation with the Phoenix Coyotes, the Lynx underachieved in their first 10 games, sealing Burton's fate with a five-game skid in which they were outscored, 29-6.

Burton, 40, took over the Lynx in Jan. 2001. He went 60-46-13 in Augusta, including a 36-26-10 mark last season as Augusta missed the playoffs for the first time. In five-plus seasons as a head coach, Burton posted a 157-119-37 record. He coached parts of three seasons in the Western Professional Hockey League before the Lynx hired him to replace Scott MacPherson.

Burton said he had mixed feelings about the change, but looks forward to his new role.

"I wish I was given a little more time with this team, but if this is the start needed to get the Lynx going the right way and it works, I'm all for it," Burton said. "I'll admit, it was real hard watching the warmup tonight."

Vieira said he felt Burton has the potential to be an outstanding GM.

"I think the world of Jim, but the bottom line of the report card is winning games," Vieira said. "Sometimes, it's just a chemistry thing, and maybe the chemistry wasn't there with the players. I told him I knew it must be disappointing to him, but he didn't sound that way. Jimmy sounded excited. I told him to look at it as an opportunity to strengthen his position in hockey."

Reach Rob Mueller at (706) 823-3425.

--From the Saturday, November 9, 2002 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle