Roar: Time For New Heroes

With an A-League side just down the M1 at Gold Coast United, Roar's position as Queensland's club of choice continues to be threatened. With United's youth team including former Brisbane talents in Richard Greer, Tahj Minniecon and Reuban Way, Roar need to work harder to keep such players in the future.

Add to that North Queensland Fury - which may launch their own NYL side soon - and new franchises in Melbourne (next season) and Sydney the season after, and it's little wonder Vidosic  is urging Roar to unify and strengthen after a rollercoaster season.   

"We've already lost Tahj Minniecon to Gold Coast last season and obviously with the National Youth League Gold Coast came in and we lost some very, very good players from Brisbane," Vidosic told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"That's what we are competing against and it will be even harder when Fury start their own NYL team. And obviously Melbourne in a year or so and Sydney, so there will be more young talent possibly leaving our state and going in another direction.

"You want to offer security, a pathway they know in Brisbane and they'd love to stay in their own city with their family and friends. And if this is not possible, they will have to go somewhere else."

Since manager Ange Postecoglou took over the reins from Frank Farina late last year, there has been a shift in emphasis at Suncorp.

New foreign players in Belgian defender Pieter Collen and attacker Steven Bryce from Costa Rica who have joined a youthful squad while veterans Craig Moore, Bob Malcolm, Liam Reddy and Charlie Miller have been moved in recent times.

Similarly, Danny Tiatto is highly unlikely to still be in Orange next week, never mind next season.  

"We will continue with the plan that the club has put in front of us. And that's the way it is," added Vidosic, the father of Socceroo and former Roar starlet Dario.

"We all have to work hard all of us, the coaching staff, the playing staff, admin staff in order to help us attract the best possible players for next season.

"We had players like Craig Moore and Charlie Miller - now there's a new era  of heroes."

Part of the new era includes former Dutch hero Patrick Kluivert who arrives this week in an assistant coaching capacity for two weeks.

Postecoglou was upbeat about the brief visit by the former Ajax, AC Milan and Barca star.

"Long-term it is about building strong relationships outside of Australian football and using those contacts to strengthen the club," he said.

"We are extremely ambitious and we see Patrick's visit as just the start of our programme to build a strong club not only in Australia, but in Asia."