Now the chase is on for both clubs to sign up the 40 best players in Australia with contracts ending this season.

Around 100 players are believed to be off contract next June - and it's now up to their current clubs to sign up 'em up on new long-term contracts...or face losing them to the new boys on the A-League block.

The FFA brought forward the window from January to October 1 to allow the new clubs a chance to put together their squads ahead of next season.

And it could result in a few shocks in the days to come. Among those yet to sign new contracts are Jets hero Joel Griffiths and Wellington Phoenix mainstay Shane Smeltz.

Yesterday though Gold Coast United boss Miron Bleiberg insisted he wouldn't be mounting a raid on local rival Queensland Roar in a withering broadside at his former club.

“On purpose, I haven’t approached one player from the Roar," he said at yesterday's unveiling of Juventus back-up goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan for the new side.

“They are very scared of us poaching all their players."

He added: “A lot of players from the Roar have already got much more money than they deserve to get, so the Roar are wasting their resources which makes them weaker.

“But I don’t say no. There could be a player from the Roar who does not get a contract and will come and ask, ‘Do you want my services?’ I might consider it, but we are not going to be actively asking Roar players.”