The two played alongside each other in Scotland for Dunfermline and at Northern Spirit in the old NSL,  which convinced Ferguson he was the right man for the job.

"I was looking for a No. 2, an assistant and Stewart was the first name that popped into my head," Ferguson told the Townsville Bulletin.

"He's got a lot of good qualities, he's obviously got the credentials in the game (having an A, B, C badge and a diploma).

"He's going to be my right hand man, he's going to be my eyes and ears about the place, he's just got a hell of a lot to offer on the park.

"He's very similar to myself and my philosophies on how we like to play the game, he'll be a great acquisition for us."

Ferguson also spent two seasons coaching Petrie when he was Lawrie McKinna's assistant coach at the Mariners, watching on as Petrie scored 10 goals in 41 appearances.

"He did very well for us, I think in the second year he was the second highest goal scorer in the Hyundai A-League," he said.

"Our friendship kept going and I liked what Stewart did on the park and off the park and how he handled himself."

Petrie, who joins Fury from Ross County in Scotland, is thrilled to be back in Australia and is looking forward to the challenges ahead.

"Amazing, it's fabulous. You don't get very many opportunities like that in the game," he said. "I'm delighted to be back, I've been away for a year and a half now so it's good to come back.

"I loved it last time I was here so hopefully it will be just as good again. It's a new challenge, it's a brand new club, we've got our own squad in and the board have assembled a fabulous squad for our first year out."

Petrie said despite his good relationship with Ferguson it wouldn't get in the way of the two being professional.

"We're good friends, our families are good friends and we get along really well," he said. "You need to be wise enough in your coaching and you need the professionalism for that as well.

"The professionalism won't stand in the way of a friendship and vice versa."