As Perth Glory players started what will be the club’s most gruelling pre-season program since the start of the Hyundai A-League, long time servant Jamie Harnwell said there can be no excuses in a critical campaign for the club.
As Perth Glory players started what will be the club-s most gruelling pre-season program since the start of the Hyundai A-League, long time servant Jamie Harnwell said there can be no excuses in a critical campaign for the club.
Suiting up for his 11th pre-season, Harnwell remains as passionate as ever about seeing the Glory return to the pinnacle of Australian football, a position the former powerhouse club of the old National Soccer League once took for granted.
“Everything’s been geared off the pitch now,” Harnwell said.
“In the past perhaps we could say we’ve had excuses, I think this year there’s no more excuses, everything’s been done to give us the best chance to perform out there and we’ve got to take that chance now,” he added.
Perth Glory owner Tony Sage has added significant resources to the football department to ensure the players prepare and maintain their physical peak throughout an extended 27 rounds season.
Joining Head Coach Dave Mitchell and Assistant Coach Kenny Lowe at the club on a full time basis for the 2009/10 season is Physiotherapist Chris Hutchinson and Strength & Conditioning Coach Peter Cklamovski.
Hutchinson worked with the club on a part time basis during the first Hyundai A-League campaign and last season managed the physio requirements of the Glory Youth Team.
Cklamovski, a highly regarded analyst and conditioning coach, has returned to Australia to take up the position with Perth after spending last season with Greek club Panahaiki FC. He was also part of Australia-s 2007 Asian Cup and the 2008 Olyroos Olympic qualifying campaign.
“We’ve got our full-time fitness and strength conditioning coach with us so I’m sure there’ll be a few different things that we haven’t seen before,” Harnwell said.
“There will be a few days where we-ll be eased into it but it’s going to be a pretty strenuous pre-season.
“Everyone is eager to get stuck in and I think it will put us in a really strong position for the season,” Harnwell said.
