Ferguson insists it is not a snub. He fully expects Fowler to demonstrate leadership on the park anyway.

The player himself also made it clear on arriving in Townsville that the issue of the captaincy was one for the coach to decide.

The coach says he will take his time before deciding on his first captain but wants someone who can perform the role long-term.

Ferguson told the Townsville Bulletin: "It's not so much about taking responsibility off him, I look at him as being my marquee player and taking a lot of responsibility but I want an Australian boy to be captain."

The coach has two or three potential skippers in mind and will use the pre-season campaign to make his decision on the right man for the job.

Fowler and his colleagues are now preparing for a busy schedule of pre-season games with the team set to take part in games in both Malaysia and Singapore at the end of the month.

Other matches ahead of the A-League season in August will see both Gold Coast United and Brisbane Roar as opponents for Fury.