Ballarat City FC is investigating the possibility of securing the services of homegrown A-League premiership player Stefan Nigro.
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He has become a free agent after being released by Melbourne Victory.
City FC head coach Danny Gnjidic said not exploring the possibility of Nigro pulling on the navy blue of Ballarat would be silly.
Nigro, a former Ballarat Red Devil, was a shock delisting by Victory on Wednesday just weeks after being a starter in its winning grand final team.
Gnjidic said the club had discussed the possibility of Nigro returning in some capacity, but it was mindful it had to be respectful in the manner it went about it.
Gnjidic said the 21-year-old would have "opened some doors" off the back of his impressive A-League season.
"We'd be negligent in our duties as a club to not explore it, but at the same time I think Stef is well above NPL2,” Gnjidic told The Courier.
"As a short-term measure, we'd be silly not to explore the possibilities.
"There might be a benefit to him and for us, on-field, but also off-field.
“Stef coming back would open-up a fair degree of promotion and marketing for our club,” he said.
"Even if he was to make a guest appearance or two, it'd be worth exploring.
“That's something we've spoken about at board level, but there's still a fair bit of water to go under the bridge for it to takes place.”
IN the meantime, Ballarat City FC continues its NPL2 West season against Brunswick City at Morshead Park on Saturday at 6pm – a game which was originally scheduled as an away fixture.
Ballarat sits in ninth position and in desperate need of another win, having won just one game and picked up four points in its latest seven outings.
Brunswick is also well down the table in the seventh and just three points better off than City FC.
While Ballarat is coming off a 3-0 loss at the hands of Goulburn Valley, Brunswick carries some confidence into this match-up after defeating Nunawading 2-1.
Ballarat has been offensively sound, with 19 goals in its 12 games a solid return.
However, it has given up too many goals with 24 getting past its defence and this will again need to be a focus.
LADDER: Altona Magic 23, Moreland Zebras 21, St Albans Saints 20, Werribee City 16, North Geelong 16, Melbourne Victory 15, Brunswick City 14, Whittlesea 13, Ballarat City FC 11, Sunshine George Cross 8
THE NPL2 fixture will be part of a family day at Morshead Park.
The Melbourne Victory events team is visiting to run activities for youngsters as part of its NPL and regional program.
Activities start at 10.30am and run until 3pm.
