Former Socceroo Dave Mitchell says his appointment as Perth Glory’s permanent coach is a big step in stabilising the club’s future, despite his new contract only running for just over a year.

After successfully taking over from sacked coach Ron Smith last month, Mitchell was confirmed in the Glory hot seat until March 2009 – a decision club owners said was a “lay down misere” after one loss in his four games in charge.

And while the appointment of Mitchell was largely so long-term planning, including player recruitment could begin, he and owner Tony Sage said they were comfortable with an initial 15-month contract.

“It has brought some stability to the club for now. People might ask why it is a one year, three month contract, but it suited both parties that way,” Mitchell said.

“If they had gone for someone else, or opened it up, there was probably going to be 200 or 300 applicants, they would have had to sift through them and that would have been a bit of a headache.

“It could have taken two to three months and that is time factor which would have put the club behind in recruiting players.

“I have been at the club for over a year, and I know what is needed. I want to get this club rocking and be in the top four … where we deserve.”

Despite not advertising the job, Glory bosses received 15 applications, and considered three candidates including Mitchell.

But Sage said there was never any real likelihood of someone else getting the job.

“We made a decision that we had to put someone in place now to get the right playing stock for next year,” Sage said.

“If we waited to the end of the season to see how Mitch went for the whole 11 games we thought that was a bad decision for the club.

“I think the performances the guys have put on the park … tells that story. We looked at Dave’s performance and really it was a lay down misere.”

While Glory still have the slimmest of hopes of making the A-League finals this year, Mitchell said his goal was to re-establish the Perth club’s Australian credentials before branching out.

“To establish the club as one of the better clubs in the A-League, obviously this year is not up yet but it is going to be difficult,” Mitchell said.

“We want to get in the top four … and we are perfectly placed for this club to be in Asia.”

With Stan Lazaridis still to play this year, as he continues his comeback from his drug ban, Mitchell said he would be keen to sign the former Premier League star for next year if he could prove he was fit enough.

And Sage has also promised Mitchell the funds to recruit up to the salary cap, which could include a marquee player.

“One of the questions Mitch asked us in accepting the role was would we do that, and we said `yes’,” Sage said.

“There is a possibility (of a marquee), we have just got to see the quality of the person, whether he will fit in and the dollars it will cost us.”

Sage also said Glory would be appointing a director of football in the next ten days.

© 2007 AAP

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