Newcastle today brought ex- Perth defender Josh Mitchell home after he signed a two-year deal with the club, while Glory have signed former Jets assistant coach Mark Jones.
Mitchell was born in Belmont, played junior football with Swansea Swans Soccer Club and started his professional career with the Newcastle United Jets. Mitchell went on to play with Romanian club Universitatea Craiova before joining Perth Glory.
The Novocastrian was invited to trial with the Jets three weeks ago and confirmed what coach Gary van Egmond already knew.
“I have coached Josh before and I know what he can bring to the team,” van Egmond said. “Josh is a very good defender, he is naturally left-sided which helped as that was a position we were looking to fill.
“He brings leadership to the team; he leads by example and is a great communicator.
“It is fantastic we can bring someone like Josh, who is a local player, back to the Jets and to represent Newcastle.”
Meanwhile Perth Glory confirmed Jones will join Stuart Munro as head coach Ian Ferguson's assistants next season.
“We are delighted to have them both on board,” Ferguson said.
“I’m really please Stuart is with the club again and Mark will bring great experience having coached in the A-League and the New South Wales Institute of Sport.”
Jones, a former Australia Youth international played more than 200 games in the National Soccer League, arrives in Perth tomorrow with a wealth of Hyundai A-League knowledge.
From 2006-10, Jones was an assistant coach with the Newcastle Jets, enjoying Championship success in 2008.
“I’m excited to be given an opportunity to be involved in the A-League again,” Jones said. “I’m grateful to coach at this level and feel I have a lot to offer.
“Perth Glory did tremendously well last season, they have very good youth development at the club and Western Australia is an exciting place to coach.”
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