Glory coach Dave Mitchell said the club won’t be rushed into making any hasty decisions about a marquee player for next season and believes patience will play a key role in selecting the right player for Perth.
Glory coach Dave Mitchell said the club won-t be rushed into making any hasty decisions about a marquee player for next season and believes patience will play a key role in selecting the right player for Perth.
The club-s board have given coaching staff the green light to recruit a marquee player next season and have committed spending the money received from the transfer of young striker Nikita Rukavytsya to FC Twente on a player capable of lifting the profile of Perth on and off the pitch.
Mitchell said that while he had identified a number of potential marquee targets the end of the European season always opened the door for other players to make the move.
“Our season is finished now but a lot of good players become available in two months time when European clubs start letting players go,” Mitchell said
“Really good players tend to pop up later on that you didn-t expect would be available… I think it is important that we don-t rush into things
“There are people we have targeted and we are moving on with that, but we don-t close off and always keep an open mind to see who is available,” said Mitchell.
A Glory marquee must first and foremost be able to contribute significantly on the pitch but also have the marketability to attract people to the game.
“There are some players that have played with Socceroos that I have spoken to and have registered their interest but you have got to get the nuts and bolts right and see if it can happen.
“If we are going to bring in a marquee player we are going to make sure he is fit and able and a very good player, that is the most important critera in our selection. Their performances will need to be able to attract people to the game.
“We have set a very high standard for the player that comes into the marquee role, it is extremely important they tick all the boxes, especially when you spend a significant amount of money to bring them to the club,” said Mitchell.
