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Under the watchful eye of coach Tony Popovic, Wanderers trained this morning at their impressive facility in Blacktown in the heart of Sydney’s west.

Despite gloomy weather, around 250 fans turned out to watch the session and meet the players later at a signing session.

A group of fans even reportedly drove from Newcastle to see former Jet Tarek Elrich train with Wanderers.

Cole senses these are the encouraging signs the newest club in the A-League can build on with less than three months to go before their first-ever competitive clash.

“A month ago we had no fans,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“Now we have to reach out to the area and we’re fortunate with the area we have to work with, there are people here who are passionate about football.

“And having played in the NSW State League, I really understand those people and what football means to them.

“I believe that is what the dream is, that’s the goal. To make these people feel welcome here with us. I’m sure Sydney FC tried that in the past but I know a lot of people personally who wouldn’t watch an A-League game.

“They’d rather sit with their friends at a state league game. Which is great, you want the state leagues to survive but we want those people to be part of the bigger picture as well.

“We want them to feel welcome with us. I think that’s been one thing that the A-League hasn’t been able to do yet.

“Not through lack of trying but being able to engage those fans who since the NSL shut down they haven’t felt like they have a club that represents them.”

In another encouraging sign, the fans applauded the players off the park - a rarity for any training session.

Cole, 27, added that creating a playing style from scratch for these new fans was also part of the appeal of being a Wanderer.

“The thing that excites me the most is that we don’t have the identity yet. A lot of clubs around the league are known for certain styles of play.

“Now that’s something we get to create together. It’s important that we have a clear focus about what we want that reputation to be. So that’s exciting.”

Cole and Kwabena Appiah missed the session with niggling injuries.

Today’s [Thursday] session was largely based on conditioning with the ball. Keeper Jerrad Tyson, striker Dylan McAllister, as well as former Mariner Matt Lewis and an un-named Korean player were some of the players on trial.

Cole had no hesitation in signing for Popovic – someone he’d played alongside as a player and later as an assistant coach at Sydney FC over the last four years.

After his contract wasn’t renewed by the sky blues, Cole was close to signing with MLS club Real Salt Lake in recent months.

But Popovic called and the versatile defender/wingback had no hesitation in joining the red and black.

“A lot of people may find he’s [Popovic] a bit harsh – a tough taskmaster – but I understand, having experienced football with him he’s only trying to get the best out of people and nothing but perfect is acceptable," said Cole.

“As a footballer that’s what you want.”

And speaking of Sydney FC, the banter is already starting to fly between the two sets of players ahead of the first ever Sydney derby.

Cole already has had texts from one FC player.

He added: "I’m giving him grief... but the club remains special to me. But if the fans boo me, I’ll have to deal with it."

And with Cole living in Concord, he’s not quite eastern suburbs or the west, alhough he has a theory about that:  “I guess if you drive on the M4 to work, you can consider yourself a Westie!”

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