Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson is holding his cards close to the chest, refusing to confirm reports the club are looking at bringing Shane Smeltz or Travis Dodd to Western Australia.
Wellington goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and Melbourne defender Evan Berger are confirmed signings for the Glory next season, but after a particularly disappointing campaign in 2010-11, the coach has promised ‘massive changes’ to the playing list.
Star Gold Coast striker Smeltz, who is currently on a short term contract at that club following his ill-fated move to Turkey, and out-of-contract Adelaide skipper Travis Dodd are at the top of the list of acquisitions.
However, speaking on Thursday before training Ferguson wouldn’t discuss these deals for fear of jinxing negotiations.
“I don’t really want to comment, because they’re not players that we’ve actually signed or done anything with,” Ferguson said.
“Until players come here (I don’t want to discuss them), but they are very good players in their own right.”
“Smeltz has come back and scores two goals in two games and Travis Dodd I think, when I’ve watched him the other day against North Queensland, you know he was the lynchpin of that 8-1 defeat.”
“So they are very good players but as I said, we’re hoping that once we get players signed and sealed that’s when we’ll make comments on them.”
Ferguson confirmed that football director David Mitchell had been at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar scouting players, with reports suggesting Indian Sunil Chhetri and an unknown Japanese player were being looked at.
Even if Smeltz was moving west, Ferguson said he was hopeful of keeping Robbie Fowler at the club, potentially producing a very potent strike force up front.
“I’ve spoken to Robbie and we’ve had a chat or two and yeah as I said, it’s down to the club and Robbie and his agent to try and get the finances sorted out and if we can get that then Robbie’s more than welcome,” Ferguson said.
However in the wake of the club’s disastrous second-last place on the table this season, Ferguson said he has to look at rebuilding the squad from the ground up, the coach referring to Ange Postecoglou’s work at table-topping Brisbane as something to aspire towards.
“I’m hoping there will be massive differences, massive changes (to the squad),” Ferguson said.
“Players that we’re looking at, at the moment excite me.”
“But until they’re signed and sealed I really can’t say too much on that but I’m hoping there will be a big difference next year.”
“Look it maybe one or two say, ‘no I don’t want to go to a team that’s sitting second bottom of the league’.”
“(But) there might be ones that say, ‘I know what they’re trying to do for next year, they’re trying to build and get a good team on the park’.”
“That’s the way I’ve got to sell it. We’ve got to sell it that we’re trying to recruit really good players here, the top-class players and if we can do that and we get one or two in over the line then I’m sure we’ll attract more.”
In the shorter term, Ferguson said there will be a few changes for this week’s clash with Sydney FC after the 4-0 loss at Wellington last Sunday.
Jacob Burns returns to the side after staying at home for the birth of a child. Adriano Pellegrino also returns from suspension, although Fowler maybe touch-and-go as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
