New head coach Corey Smith, who has taken over at the helm from Michael Busija, has confirmed the trio of Alex Antonelli, Will Georgiou and Carl Frankson have all headed to National Premier Leagues Victoria 2 side Ballarat City.

The trio was part of the Vikings team that finished last season in sixth place on the ladder.

While Antonelli, Georgiou and Frankson are big departures, Smith will be hoping the recruitment of three important players can minimise the damage.

After an injury-plagued past couple of seasons, Adrian Curtain has joined from Ballarat’s NPLV2 club and looks to be a strong addition to the Vikings’ midfield and defensive stocks.

Meanwhile, Henry Wines and Brayden Baker are on board after spending last season with Buninyong in the Ballarat and District Soccer Association.

Smith said Wines played in the outfield with Buninyong, but will return to his regular place as a goal-keeper at his new club.

He expects Baker, who played with Sebastopol two seasons ago, to be a good inclusion into the defensive and midfield options.

Smith said saying the team can win the league is over-ambitious given the club has finished no higher than fifth in state league four, but still wants to improve on last year’s standing.

“Obviously, we have lost three very important players and I wish them all the best, but I still believe we have a squad capable of being competitive at the top end of the league,” Smith said.

The club will kick-off its new season with an FFA Cup fixture in late February, a match Smith is looking at as a way of building towards the league opener in late March.

Fixtures are yet to be released for the two competitions.