“I would imagine that moment here [at the SFS] on October 15 when Brett runs out in his first game for Sydney FC, I’ll struggle not to have a tear in my eye because I know the boys and girls in the Cove will put on their best performance we’ve ever seen,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“It’s the thing we’re most proud about is what we’ve delivered for the fans and what we’ve done for the community because Brett will be involved in the community and will make a difference in the community.

“There is no other sport in the world that can make a difference in the community as much as football.”

He added: “Football for me is the conduit for social change because it’s played in every country in the world and there are 900,000 people in NSW that play it more than any code combined across every other state across the country.

“The community and the fans – this is what this is all about.”

For the club to have enticed a current English Premier League star to the A-League makes the move justifiably special. Emerton's reputation is virtually unmatched  as he looks ahead to another World Cup campaign over the coming few years.

Melton said the signing was as much about the fans as it was for the team and their on-field fortunes but didn't want to speculate on average home crowd figures after last season's disappointing numbers.

He did however state a goal of 10,000 members though he added that was a bullish target.

“The Cove are incredible," he said. "They generate an atmosphere no other code can match. You talk to regular EPL fans and they say our Cove fans are some of the best in the world."

After last season's poor form and low crowds, quizzed on whether the excitement was back at Sydney FC, Melton preferred to look to ahead. “There’s excitement in the future.”