Despotoski can see light at the end of the tunnel for Glory

Bobby Despotovski is confident Perth Glory remain on the right track to be a Westfield W-League force in the future despite their struggles this season.

Glory, grand finalists last season, have yet to register a win in 2019/20 as the side has gone through a transitional phase.

Despotovski lost a lot of experience from their squad in the off-season, with the likes of Sam Kerr, Rachel Hill, Alyssa Mautz and Nikki Stanton moving on after the Grand Final loss to Sydney FC.

The Glory boss has put his faith in a lot of young talent as he looks to build a strong foundation for the future.

And while results haven’t materialised this season – Glory have just two draws from eight games – Despotovski is confident in the club’s long-term development plan.

“We said all along that these are the players that are the future of this club and that’s the route that we want to take,” he told the club’s official website.

PREVIEW: Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
ROUND 11: How to watch the upcoming round of Westfield W-League

“Is it going to be painful at times? Yes. Is it going to be hard work for the girls and for myself and the club? No doubt about it.

“But my coaching staff and Perth Glory as a club are fully supportive of what we’ve set out to do in the next three to five years and that’s positive.

“We’re currently in the first year of that development and we’re bringing the young girls in and giving them a start.

“It’ll be a little bit more next year and then we’ll expect them to step up and be the leaders of our club in the fourth and fifth year. That’s the plan that we have for the future.”

That doesn’t mean they don’t want that winning feeling now and they are desperate for all three points in Thursday night’s clash against Newcastle Jets.

A win at McDonald Jones Stadium would even see Glory leapfrog the Jets up to seventh on the ladder.

“For me as a coach, as a group of players and as a club, we cannot accept anything less than a win,” Despotovski said.

TALKING POINTS: How will Wanderers keep their momentum without O’Sullivan?
BEST OF ROUND 10: Westfield W-League Team of the Week

“There were patches in the game against [Western Sydney] Wanderers on Sunday where we did extremely well and that gives us confidence for Thursday.

“At the start of the second half, for maybe 15 or 20 minutes, we dominated. We scored a goal and were on top of them, but couldn’t score that second goal and unfortunately copped the second and then the third ourselves.

“We could see on the faces of the players that they were disappointed that they didn’t get anything out of the game. I understand that because we came so close and had nothing to show for it, but that’s been the story of our season.”

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514572001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6113899735001