It may be the soccer off season, but the action hasn’t stopped for National Premier League side Hume City.
City has been busy, having already signed six players for next year.
Technical Manager Dean Hennessey said the new signings would give the club a chance to rebuild the squad around several key players who have remained.
The club has gone for players who have shown they can perform on the big stage, with Kris Kioussis, Liam Boland, James McGarry, Wayne Wallace, Atilla Ofli and Ersin Kaya signing on.
“We’ve signed one of the most dominant midfielders in the NPL, Wayne Wallace,” Hennessey said. “He was the captain of the Bentleigh Greens and he brings a lot of experience and will help Nick [Hegarty].
“James McGarry, who comes from the Melbourne Knights, is quite big and brings a presence and has played at a high standard in England.
“Ersin played at Bulleen and Turkey and is a former player of the club, Atilla has a brilliant season with Whittlesea. He’s another former player with the club – he’s a bit more mature.”
Hennessey said he coached Kioussis at Dandenong Thunder, while Boland, who played with Green Gully Cavaliers, has averaged a goal every two games since moving to Melbourne. He said getting these players was aimed at trying to bridge the gap to the top two to three NPL teams.
Hennessey said City was likely to announce the signing of a goalkeeper in coming weeks. The club needs to replace gun keeper Chris Oldfield, who has left the club after five years.
He said he expected Oldfield to get an opportunity with an A-League team in the coming years.
Oldfield isn’t the only departure, with Craig Carley, Declan Hargraves, Joseph and Peter Franjc and Jeremy Walker also moving on.
The signings haven’t just been on the field, with Hennessey signing on in a technical manager role. He will head the whole of the football department.
Hennessesy took over the role of caretaker coach towards the end of the season, when the club parted ways with Louie Acevski, with whom Hennessey remains close.
“I came to the club to work with Louie,” Hennessey said.
“The chairman wanted me to keep on with some coaching. Part of my role is a mentor role, with David Chick and Steven Gray. I’m still the technical director role – it is a busy time. It’s excited and hopefully a lot of upside.”
Tara Murray
