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No time for sentiment as Glory wield axe

Perth Glory stalwarts Gareth Naven and Scott Miller have been sacked after an internal review of the club's coaching structure and football department.

Naven and Miller, who enjoyed distinguished playing careers with Glory, returned to the club on two-year contracts as assistants to then coach Alistair Edwards last year.

But they have now been replaced by John Gibson, a former Glory youth assistant coach who has been made head of youth football development.

Gibson joins new goalkeeping coach Danny Milosevic and conditioning expert Toby Horak in a revamped football department under Kenny Lowe, who won the full-time position as head coach in April after replacing the sacked Edwards on an interim basis in December.

The decision to part with Naven and Miller seems contradictory to Glory's desire to employ club luminaries in the football department - a philosophy introduced by Edwards and frequently referred to by chief executive Jason Brewer.

Naven was Glory's inaugural captain in 1996 and played 143 games for the club. Miller made 227 appearances.

Both were key figures during Glory's most successful era in the old National Soccer League.

Gibson began his new role yesterday and is in the process of finalising his coaching A-licence.

He has a strong resume, having previously been in charge of Glory's women's team, Football West's National Training Centre and the WA Institute of Sport soccer program.

Glory's bid to return to the A-League finals begins tomorrow when the new-look squad comes together for the first official day of pre-season training.