Ballarat City has re-signed coach Danny Gnjidic for the 2018 National Premier League two west season.
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While both City and Gnjidic came to the desired result, it did take time.
Ballarat’s final NPL2W match was on August 26, yet the decision to appoint the coach that had City playing some quality soccer through the middle periods of the season took some seven weeks.
Gnjidic said the delay was necessary as the two parties had some “honest” conversations about where the club was heading and got on the same page in regards to the challenges that the club faces and the realistic goals it should obtain.
"The delay was based on wanting to make sure that my goals and my aims were aligned with those of the club,” Gnjidic said.
"I just wanted to make sure that we were both moving forward and on the same page.
"For me, it's the more immediate stuff with the senior team.
"The goal is to be successful and the aim is to play at the highest possible level.
"But the reality is, with our resources we can't match some of those (top) clubs.
"They spend probably three, if not four, times what our player budget was for 2017, so it makes it really hard to compete. But we have other strengths and other qualities. It's going to be a matter of getting the absolute most out of those strengths and qualities for us to compete - and I think we can.”
Gnjidic made it clear his intention was to always coach on and now it was a matter of unlocking those strengths to account for the lack of spending ability.
Gnjidic said one of his club’s advantages was having the majority of its side based in Ballarat, allowing it to build from year to year, rather than relying on imports and star signings to keep afloat.
"My desire and intent was to want to stay. I just needed the club and board to know what we were up against and acknowledge what we have,” Gnjidic told The Courier.
Gnjidic said he was committed to a one-year deal and would assess an extension at season's end.
Ballarat City finished seventh on the west division table in 2017 after a 28-match campaign that returned 10 wins and five draws.
The 2018 season is likely to start in February next year.
