Speaking to au.fourfourtwo.com shortly after being unveiled as the new coach of the new A-League franchise, Ferguson says he wants hard working players to power his new side.

"Hard working is important. It's not the only trait but it's important to track back, work for the team, make tackles... I don't like prima donnas."

As for his captain, Ferguson said he already had his eye on a few players but said the skipper had to be a real on-field leader. "He's got to be respected fully and be a blood and guts type of player."

While Ferguson conceded playing in the heat of a north Queensland summer will be an issue when picking his players, he issued a warning to both Queensland Roar and Gold Coast United when it comes to talent in the sunshine state.

"It's such a big state but I have contacts in Brisbane and Gold Coast and we can go in there. If so, so be it."

He did admit however that finding players would be his biggest challenge "as clubs are already signing up players."

He added that north Queensland state league players would not be forgotten though. "We have four state league clubs up here and I think we can have the pick of the players in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and the like and now local players do have a pathway to the A-League."

Interestingly, the club did not announce Ferguson's assistant coach or its youth team coach, despite the club previously saying they would also announce that today.

Ferguson said he'll begin that process shortly. He was also tight lipped on the role of current club technical director Blair Burke.

As for the style of coach, Ferguson promised he wouldn't differ too much from the successful style of Lawrie McKinna at Central Coast – a club Ferguson has been an assistant at since the inception of the A-League in 2005.

"I'm very similar to Lawrie. We did differ on some things and on some ideas but we complemented each other. But now I've got the final say while at the Mariners it was Lawrie."

Ferguson will have five visa spots at his disposal and will begin pre-season officially next May.

In his Scottish homeland, Ferguson is an icon of the local game. In 2006 Ferguson was admitted to the prestigious Rangers Hall of Fame.

In twelve seasons at Ibrox, he amassed over 350 appearances and played an integral part in the perhaps the clubs greatest ever success – nine consecutive Scottish Premier League Championships between 1989 and 1997.

As for the notion that Glasgow Rangers is taking over Queensland football after his signing and that of Charlie Miller and Craig Moore at Queensland Roar, he laughed and said, "I never thought of that."