Lowe ready to reshape Glory
Kenny Lowe has been charged with developing Perth Glory into a club which can contend for A-League honours every season after he was confirmed as coach for the next two years.
Lowe, who filled the role of interim coach this season after Alistair Edwards was sacked in December, yesterday admitted surprise at being given the permanent role after beating a field of more than 50 candidates from Australia and overseas.
In 17 games at the helm, Lowe guided Glory to four wins, four draws and nine losses.
He said Glory's eighth-place finish was unacceptable, but felt he was capable of turning the club's fortunes around.
"It's a big job," Lowe said.
"We want to be a club that's challenging every year and every club in Australia wants the same, but not everybody's doing it.
"At the moment you probably look at two or three clubs that before the season starts you can say they'll be there or thereabouts. You actually don't say that about this club at the moment.
"Bit by bit, year by year, hopefully that improves and it gets to the stage where people talk about Perth Glory like they talk about Brisbane Roar, Central Coast and the Wanderers."
Lowe is able to reshape the Glory squad, with Jacob Burns, Travis Dodd, Ryan Edwards, Adrian Zahra, William Gallas, Steven McGarry and Darvydas Sernas set to move on.
Lowe will look to recruit players in their mid to late 20s while continuing to develop the talented group of youngsters already at the club.
"You've got to get footballers," Lowe said. "That's the type of coach I am, I like players who can play the game.
"We need to be an energetic, competitive, quick, ball-playing side, and those are the type of players that you need to look for."
Lowe had been critical of the players' poor fitness levels this season and will boost the football department with the addition of specialist strength and conditioning staff.
He is yet to determine the make-up of the rest of the coaching structure, but will be working to provide stronger links between the football department and club administration.
Glory chief executive Jason Brewer said Lowe's passion had played a key role in winning him the job and described the new coach as one of the best credentialed candidates in the country.
Lowe had been part of WA's talent development pathways for the past decade and also worked as an assistant coach at Glory under Dave Mitchell.
Lowe is Glory's fifth coach in the seven years since Tony Sage became part of the ownership structure in 2007.
