Ziggy Gordon only needed one conversation with coach Alen Stajcic to know Central Coast Mariners was the right club for him.
The Scottish youth international has been brought in to add some steel and grit a Mariners side that has struggled in recent seasons.
But the Hyundai A-League club wasn’t the only potential suitor for the tough-tackling 26-year-old defender, who also had teams in Poland and his native Scotland trying to lure him.
In the end, it was Stajcic’s clear vision and candid message that convinced Gordon to move to Gosford.
“The first thing that struck me was how honest he was. I asked him from the beginning what his philosophy was, what does he want in the next one, two, three years.
SIGNING NEWS: All of Central Coast Mariners' Ins & Outs
STAJCIC: Players are desperate to make Mariners competitive again
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS: Three memorable moments from 2018/19
“He told me it was a project here and if I wanted to be a part of it.
“I was always thinking about it, even when I was speaking to other clubs, I always remembered that conversation with him, I couldn’t get it out of my head.
“I feel this is the right place where I can develop, it’s the place where I can make the biggest impact and that’s what I want to do, make an impact.”
Western United attempted Nasri signing
Mark Rudan confirmed Western United have been in contact with Frenchman Samir Nasri about the possibility of being a marquee player for the new Hyundai A-League club.
While the former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder had heard great things about Melbourne and the Hyundai A-League, a deal wasn’t possible for the club’s debut season in the competition.
"Speaking to Samir, obviously he had a lot of offers around the world but huge ones in Qatar," Rudan told AAP.
SIGNING NEWS: All of Western United's signings
NEW STAR IS COMING: Why Kone snubbed European offers to join Western United FC
BADGE OF HONOUR: Western United announce their official club logo
"What we can try and tell these players is that the lifestyle here is fantastic. Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world and that's one thing that really interested him and his young family, that he was able to potentially leave somewhat of a legacy.
"I was actually taken aback by how much he knew about the city and about the A-League as well.
"Word is getting out about the A-League but unfortunately there's only so much that we can offer financially."
