Thompson was believed to have been keen to work with Stubbins at INSEE Police United but the deal - which was a loan deal - is said to have been scuppered due to red tape.

“We nearly pulled off bringing Archie Thompson to the club and it was heartbreaking to miss out on him,” a disappointed Stubbins told au.fourfourtwo.com from Bangkok tonight.

“He, like Paul Reid, would have been brilliant for us and I want to thank Archie and the club for helping to try and make it happen.

“Unfortunately, insurance killed off the deal and it never eventuated."

It would have been a huge signing for the Thai competition and a massive loss to the A-League and the long-suffering fans of Victory.

But it's just another indicator that cashed up AFC leagues have the ambition and financial muscle to target Australian players.

“Goals win games and he would have serviced the team well in that department, no doubt,” Stubbins added.

Stubbins - who took over the Thai job earlier this year and was one of the architects of Adelaide United’s ACL run of 2008 – has been impressed by what he’s seen so far of his club.

And the former NSL midfielder and VPL super-coach, pointed to a remarkable result by one Thai team as proof the southeast Asian nation is on the rise.

“I watched the game last week where Buriram of Thailand beat Kashiwa Reysol, the Japanese champions, 3-2 in the ACL, in a very strong performance.

“This result obviously suggesting the strength of the league is very strong at the top end.”

It was a result that made many sit up and take notice of the Thais – who also impressed in the Socceroos’ recent World Cup qualifying group though Oman just squeezed them out of group qualification.

And Melbourne Victory's memories of their loss to Chonburi some years ago remains another reminder of the improving stocks in Thai football.

Little wonder Stubbins has had to hit the ground running.

Last week he signed Paul Reid.The experienced former Brighton player and Wollongong NSL grand final winning midfielder ended his short-term injury contract at Melbourne Heart and should prove invaluable to the young squad.

“It was a no brainer really when the opportunity arose to bring in someone like ‘Reidy’. He will be an ideal fit in a team attempting to consolidate its position in the Thai premier league with this being only their second year in the top flight," said Stubbins.

“He comes to a very sound, organised club with some fantastic support staff. He will be looked after very well indeed."

Reid playing in behind Thompson would’ve been an eye-catching combination. It hasn’t happened but Stubbins is still excited at what Reid can offer.

“It will be good to work together again and I always valued Paul's relationship as a player because he constantly gave valuable information back to the coaching staff and was a key part of being able to affect the team from a game plan perspective whilst out on the pitch.

“He was always very in sync with the strategies put forward and this should help the team and myself in a big way.”

Stubbins, who was interim AIS coach before he was offered the lucrative job, was poached largely because of his youth credentials.

The Thais visited him in Canberra and watched him coach before offering him the senior position.

And INSEE is a club with a focus on youth, having a team that won the Thai youth league twice in the past two seasons.

“Although it's very early to judge, I'm confident the senior team has the basis of a squad capable of competing strongly,” he said.

“I'm optimistic about the season ahead yet, realistic. That is to say lets see how we go with no specific targets and goals other than to say our next game will be our primary target.

“It really will be one game at a time in the initial stages. The response to the sessions put forward has been awesome and the technical standard of the players is genuinely high.

“However, it's the structures and organisational awareness that needs most work.”

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