Glory pins its hopes on Liverpool legend

Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McMahon has vowed to lead Perth Glory into the new Hyundai A-League with the same vigour which epitomised his tough-tackling playing career after being appointed head coach of the Australian champion team.

The no-nonsense McMahon was not prepared to make wild predictions about immediate championship success in the new eight-team competition, set to kick-off in August, but said he would approach the job with his customary enthusiasm.

“There’s no promises from me but I’m a winner and I’ll go in there with all guns blazing,” he said from his home in Southport, England, yesterday. “I know I’ve got a hard act to follow but I’ve just got to assess the standard and take it from there.”

McMahon, who is due in Perth next week, said he would look closely at the players Glory had already signed before making any efforts to bring in overseas talent.

“It’s all well and good bringing people in but they’ve got to be better than what we’ve already got,” he said. “It would be foolish to bring people in just for the sake of it.”

McMahon’s appointment came at the end of a global search for a highprofile figure to take the team into soccer’s new era.

Candidates for the job included former Scotland manager Craig Brown and ex-England international defender Terry Fenwick.

But Glory chairman Nick Tana said McMahon was best suited to the position.

“Steve’s energy, enthusiasm and hunger to be successful in his coaching career played an important part in our decision making,” Tana said. “We consider him the most suitable applicant.”

Former coach Mich d’Avray, who led the Glory to the last two National Soccer League championships before recently opting for a technical manager’s role, said McMahon would put

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