Glory stopper Jamie Coyne has done his part to help bolster Perth’s squad for the upcoming season with a few words of encouragement in the ear of his brother Chris, a Socceroos defender, and target of the West Australian club, to return home and suit up in purple.
Glory stopper Jamie Coyne has done his part to help bolster Perth-s squad for the upcoming season with a few words of encouragement in the ear of his brother Chris, a Socceroos defender, and target of the West Australian club, to return home and suit up in purple.
Chris- signature would cap off a remarkable off-season recruiting drive by Coach Dave Mitchell and add a third Socceroo to the club-s books for the 2009/10 season.
Speaking after a gruelling 90-minute kickboxing session, Jamie said he’d love to play alongside his brother at Members Equity Stadium but wasn-t sure which way Chris was leaning.
The Colchester United captain could stay in England, where he has struggled of late for regular game time, or look for a move to either the Middle East or Asia.
If he does return to Western Australia and join Perth Glory he-ll link up with Socceroos team-mates Mile Sterjovski and Jacob Burns in the lead up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
“I hope he can come to an agreement with Perth,” Jamie said.
“But I think he’s just waiting on getting a few offers and weighing them all up at the same time.
“On a personal note, I’d love to have him here and he’d love to be back in Perth.
“Every year when he comes back he says he’d love to come back and play, but it is hard obviously, because he’s been in Europe now for 12 or 13 years and he’s got a young family.
“He’s got a few family decisions to make and that comes down to finances and things like the World Cup squad next year.
“I think the idea of maybe another one or two years (in Europe) isn’t the worst thing for him, he’s dealt with all the homesickness and everything like that.
“It would have to be the right offer for him (to return) but definitely I’m trying to persuade him to come back.”
The younger of the brothers, Jamie indicated he’d like to continue as club captain this season, despite facing some stiff competition from newcomers Sterjovski, Burns and fellow defender Andy Todd, who previously captained Blackburn in the English Premier League.
“We haven’t talked about it yet, we’re just in pre-season now, getting fit and everything and obviously he’s (Mitchell) been very busy trying to assemble the squad,” Coyne said.
“I think anyone would enjoy leading their home team. Obviously we didn’t have the best season last year but I’d love to still do it but that’s up to Mitch and the club, so we’ll see what happens.”
Jamie has been recovering from a slight adductor strain that kept him out of the club’s pre-season friendly against Adelaide last Friday night but is confident he will be fully fit in time for the two high-profile matches against English Premier League sides Wolverhampton (July 10) and Fulham (July 15).
