van't Schip spoke out in the Dutch press as he went on a manhunt for the final foreigner to fill his gap in central defence.

But he told the Dutch press the sport was struggling Down Under as clubs battled to break even and cope with the restraints of the salary cap.

"Australia really has to catch up in football." he told www.voetball.nl. "They are now looking to see if the salary cap can be raised. But the clubs in Australia have to deal with financial problems."

He admitted Heart had struggled in their debut season but insisted things improved as time went on.

"Because everything had to be set up, it was very difficult when we started the competition," said Van 't Schip. "The games were good, but we missed many chances.

"I tried it to play Dutch football, as I myself was educated in the Netherlands, and after the initial phase, we got better."

However van't Schip refused to say what the future held for him and said he would begin contract talks with Heart in January, but hinted that he may be moving on at the end of the season.

 "I do not know exactly what I'll do," he said. "I do not necessarily return from Australia to the Netherlands.

"I am open to any country. That can be in Europe but also in America. We have older children, so it is easier to move. "