2010 Starts Now For Strikers

Tuesday 10th Nov, 2009

Supporters of the Brisbane Strikers might be settling into their off-season routines and perhaps dreaming of a steaming hot Christmas, but it just might surprise them that their team and coaching staff are back on the training field already, preparing to defend the club’s QSL title in 2010.

Tuesday, November 10 is, as far as coach Stuart McLaren is concerned, the day that could not arrive quickly enough. McLaren has been quietly relishing the thought of getting his team back out on the turf since approximately five minutes after the QSL Grand Final in mid-September.

But McLaren will be preparing for the new season with perhaps fewer familiar faces than he would have anticipated back in September. Due to a variety of reasons ranging from work commitments, retirements, releases and offers from other clubs will be Jamie Johnson, Steve Unsworth, Scott MacNicol, Warren Moon, Jeromy Harris, Craig Collins and Jerrad Tyson. Michael Butters will also be absent from pre-season training, at least in its early phase, while trying his luck in trials in Scotland.

With three of the vacated squad positions already having been filled by the addition of Matija Simic, Brendan White and Regan Alder from last season’s Under-21 squad, that still leaves at least four places up for grabs as pre-season training commences.

That is a situation with which McLaren is unconcerned.

“It is disappointing to lose experienced players” he admitted. “But I am excited about starting training and even if I needed to start with a totally new squad I would be confident about putting a good team together.

“There are plenty of boys of quality looking to get in”.