Former Adelaide United captain Travis Dodd wants to repay the faith shown in him by his new club Perth Glory.
Speaking in Adelaide, Dodd said he was grateful Perth had been patient while he remained in talks with United.
Negotiations at Adelaide broke down when Dodd was told he would not be offered another contract beyond what was already on the table.
The 31-year-old said he was excited by the joining the Glory who are going through a rebuilding phase with club owner Tony Sage looking to build a championship winning side.
“Perth were really keen to get things going quickly and from their point of view they’ve been fantastic with all of this,” Adelaide-born Dodd said on Wednesday.
“They’ve been very patient with me and for that I’d like to thank them as well. They were waiting on me a while there and I’m just happy it’s all done and dusted and I can look forward now.”
“I am really excited about going to Perth. I’ve spoken with the staff there, and the coaching staff and they’re looking to build a really good squad.”
“With an owner like Tony Sage there who has put in a lot of money there to try and build a club and win a championship, I’m very happy that I’ve got the opportunity to go there and repay some of the faith they’ve shown in me now.”
“I’ve got to look forward and embrace the challenge in Perth. I embrace what Perth has offered me and I go over there to welcoming arms.”
The Glory have already signed keeper Wellington’s Danny Vukovic, Melbourne Heart’s Dean Heffernan and Victory’s Evan Berger. More big name signings are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks with Gold Coast United striker Shane Smeltz rumoured to sign once GCU’s finals campaign is over.
Dodd said he would relish the opportunity to help take Perth back to their former glory after they finished disappointing 10th this season.
“I think talking with Fergy and some of the players that they’ve recruited and on the verge of signing they’re going to have a strong squad. They’ve certainly built on last season’s squad,” he said.
“They’ve had an underperforming year but I can see the passion that the owner Tony Sage is showing. He’s not a man that wants to stay on the bottom and I want to be a part of that, a club that moves forward and challenges for championships and ultimately the Champions League as well.”
The Reds’ record games and goals holder signalled his intentions to win a championship before his time is up and believes Perth will be contenders next season.
“At the end of the day every player wants to win championships and if I didn’t think that would be possible over there I wouldn’t be going over there,” he said.
“I’m a professional footballer and I play to win. Whether it’s for Adelaide or Perth Glory whenever I pull on a shirt I give 100 percent every game for 90 minutes.”
Dodd has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with an option for a third which he said he intends to fulfil.
“It’s two plus an option,” he said.
“But with the option I’ve got an agreement with Perth and I think I can fulfil that and I see myself being over there for the long term.”
