THE Ballarat Red Devils have turned to off-shore players in a bid for league promotion, in what is being hailed a new era at the club.
Four European players will join the Devils’ list this year, adding to a side that already has a strong international flavour.
With Irish recruit Brian Shelley again leading the international charge — this year in his first season as head coach — another Irishman, two Welsh players and a Norwegian will all be welcomed to Trekardo Park for the 2012 season.
Add returning English recruit Adam Newbold to the mix for his second season and the Haymes Red Devils appear to be building an imposing side for the future, led by its foreign legion.
Sean Harding joins the club with a wealth of experience, having played more than 50 games in Ireland’s premier football division.
Young Welsh duo Simon Williams and John Duffield will also join the fold, both having represented Wales at a junior international level.
Williams will fulfil a goalkeeping role and 18-year-old Duffield has spent time with Rhyl FC in the Welsh premier league.
Norwegian Daniel Forlandsaas is a tall striker who last year reached the final 100 players out of 75,000 hopefuls in the Nike Chance Academy, which gives players a chance at earning a spot in the Nike Academy.
David King will also return to the club, after spending time training with English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.
Red Devils football director Paul Smalley said the players were lured to the club by the opportunity that lay ahead. He said existing relationships and international contacts were crucial in attracting the players, rather than enticing them with large sums of money.
“It’s going to be a cultural change at the club that’s for sure,” he said.
“We don’t see this as a one-stop-shop for these guys where they stop in Ballarat then ride off into the sunset.”
The Red Devils reserves side is now a strictly under-23 squad, which will focus on fostering the best players from across the region.
Smalley said local players would still get every opportunity in the senior side, but would have to prove their worth against a strong roster.
Head coach Brian Shelley said the club had already changed a lot since the end of last season, where it finished fifth on the FFV State League Two table.
“We’ve come a long way since the end of last season, in many ways,” he said.
“Some of these guys we’re getting across have been at pro clubs since they were 15.
‘‘Having them around will be a great opportunity for our younger guys to feed off them.”
Shelley said the although the club was aiming for promotion this year, the new direction from the club was to achieve sustained long-term success.
Red Devils training starts next week, where the squad will train three times a week.
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