FORMER Leichhardt coach Martin Docherty has officially been announced as the head man at FNQ FC after long-time coach Peter Tokesi announced his retirement on Saturday night.

The announcement confirmed what many had expected since the FNQ FC was granted a licence into the Australian Premier League in August.

Tokesi was the only person to coach FNQ Bulls during their four years in the Queensland State League but had openly talked about stepping down from the post.

Last season he announced his retirement but backtracked after a few weeks of "sitting on the couch".

Earlier in the year when Centre of Excellence's under-19 team, FNQ Fusion, folded Tokesi announced Docherty, who was the team's coach, as his assistant and anointed him as successor to the head coach role.

On Saturday night the succession plan was followed through as Docherty was officially announced Tokesi's replacement at an end-of-year function for the FNQ Bulls.

"It's a privilege to be asked to take a lead role in the new era for football, not just in our part of Queensland, but in terms of our game's progress in Australia and on the world stage," Docherty said.

"It's very exciting to be part of a football community that will now have a direct connection to the highest levels of the game."

Tokesi will remain at the club as a board member.

"It's always been my passion to give something back into the local grassroots at the community level and this new APL entity has a real focus on community support and growing our game from the ground up," Tokesi said.

Defenders took home the awards for the FNQ Bulls at the now-defunct Queensland State Clubs 2012 awards night in Mareeba. Vice-captain Alex Plowman was awarded Player of the Year, while fellow back Calum Wood received the award for Player's Player.

The biggest award went to goalkeeper Jack Richards, who received a Safest Hands award from Football Queensland for allowing the least goals this season.

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