And he insisted the new club - still without a name, a home or club colours - was the only one on his radar, denying any formal discussions ever took place with Sydney FC.

"I never had any detailed discussions with Sydney FC," Popovic said today. "It's a great club but there was nothing formal discussed there.

"This was not a decision that I took lightly. It was something that was thought through thoroughly.

"The children were a little bit surprised - they were enjoying the live football over there - but last night they were very proud of their dad."

He is now focused solely on creating his new club from the ground up - and the first-time boss says he's ready for the challenge.

"It's an area enriched with a lot of football history," said Popovic. "There are a lot of participants young and old in the area that have been crying out for a team in the west.

"I'm sure they'll support us and I'm sure we'll produce the brand of football they'll want to follow. They're hard working people and want to see a reflection of that in their team.

"If we can bring that, along with a good style of football, the A-League and people of West Sydney will be proud."

Popovic has just five months to assemble his side but he dismissed concerned about the rushed timeframe.

"We are short of time but we are confident we will have a good competitive team for the outset that will be well prepared," he said "That's a challenge we will have."

The former Socceroo joins the new club after an illustrious career for club and country in Australia, the UK and Japan.

He was a fan favourite as a player at Crystal Palace and went back there as a coach after retiring as a player during his spell with his new crosstown rivals Sydney FC.

And while it has been a wrench to leave his old team-mate Dougie Freedman - now Palace manager - the club has back his choice...and given him the perfect grounding for his new role, he said.

"I have a great relationship with the manager and chairman at Crystal Palace," said Popovic.

"I ddid have a contract there but building something from scratch, coming out to the west where I started my football was an opportunity hard to turn down.

"Crystal Palace have really backed me on this and supported it and see my passion about the role. They gave the all clear and after that it was a pretty easy decision.

"In terms of education, I went there to improve as a coach and I'm sure I have done that. We went through three months of relegation battle and that was a steep learning curve.

"We are excited by the challenge of building a club with young players which is what we were trying to do at Palace.

"Beating Manchester United at Old Trafford is a moment that will live with me forever and we will want to bring something similar to West Sydney."

Popovic said he would be leading from the front and getting his hands dirty out on the training field.

"I am very hands on," he said "I like being out there, conducting the sessions, that's how i see the role.

"At Crystal Palace, my role was very similar. The manager there preferred to oversee things more.

As well as recruiting players, Popovic will be looking to hire his backroom staff, with former team-mate - and current Melbourne Heart assistant coach - Ante Milicic tipped to join as his right hand man.

But Popovic insisted there would be many candidates to look at and only the best man would get the job.

"We are in the process of going through the whole backroom staff talking to different people," he said. "We have certain values in place that these people will abide boy.

"[Ante] is one of a lot of candidates. He's doing a great job at Melbourne but there are other people i will be speaking to.

"There are some great candidates out there and we'll be speaking them all before making a decision."