Thwaite returned from Europe after spells in Romania, Poland and Norway to spend three years at the Queensland club until its ugly end last season.

He won respect for leading the Gold Coast side in its final A-League campaign as the off-field drama increasingly overshadowed United's on-field efforts.

When the axe finally fell on the club, the 29-year-old fringe Socceroo was one of the key players wooed by rival clubs, eventually joining Glory on a two-year deal in May.

Today Thwaite - currently on tour with Glory in South Africa - revealed his relief at escaping the chaos on the Coast to join last season's grand finalists in Perth.

"I'm a Queenslander at heart," Thwaite said. "And Gold Coast United will always hold a very special place in my heart, just as it will for the other lads that played there.

"It's only natural to feel upset about what happened there, but it's also a pleasure to now be at a club that is run properly, because Gold Coast clearly wasn't.

"It's great to be able to focus solely upon the everyday aspects of the game and the kind of leadership I can give to the team without all the other shenanigans off the field."

He revealed his relief at the effect of being at a 'good, stable club' had made on his young family, while the presence of former Gold Coast team-mates Steve Pantelidis and Chris Harold has further helped Thwaite settle.

Glory are two games into their three-match series in South Africa, having lost 1-0 to AmaZulu in their tour opener before comfortably beating Platinum Allstars 3-0.  They face Bidvest Wits on Tuesday, in their final match.