Spencer Prior joins Manly United coaching staff
In a major boost to the peninsula club, the former City, Norwich and Southend star will start his new role when pre-season starts on November 19.
With long-serving assistants Les Macedo and Steve Berry both stepping down after a successful 2008 with the club, Moss ? who has just agreed to another two years at Cromer Park – said it was essential to find the right coaches to fill the breach.
?Les and Steve were brilliant to work with and we had a great working relationship but they decided to step down for family reasons and I respect that,? Moss said.
?I?m delighted to have sorted out my position with the club. It is a great club to work for and they have been very good to me with regards my involvement with the Olyroos over the past two years. It?s an exciting time at the club and I want to continue to play my part.?
Prior will come in as assistant coach while retiring first grade captain Richy Williams will coach the under-20s with another former Manly United player Daniel Lock assisting him.
?It?s a fantastic support staff for me and I know the players will respond to them in a very positive way,? Moss said.
?Spencer had an incredible playing career and the experience and knowledge he brings to the table will be invaluable. He and Richy are halfway through their AFC/FFA A-Licence too so they are serious about their coaching which suits me down to the ground.?
Prior played more than 200 EPL games during a glittering career in the UK before moving to Australia last year with his wife Clair and three daughters and settling on the Northern Beaches.
He is a respected panellist on Fox Sports EPL coverage and runs his own football distribution company Love Football.
Moss said Prior?s presence would provide the young players coming through at Manly United with invaluable insight into what it takes to be a professional footballer.
?We pride ourselves on being as professional a club as we can be at a semi-professional level and players must understand that being a professional footballer is not a tag ? it?s a right you have to earn every day of your playing career,? the former Northern Spirit defender said.
?Spencer fought for his livelihood as a player in a tough place like England and I think our young players will flock to him for advice like bees to honey.?
The club?s player recruitment drive is going along well with former West Sydney Berries pair Scott Thomas and Josh Sama as well as 2008 Grade 20s Golden Boot winner Brodie Mooy (Marconi) all agreeing terms in the past fortnight.
Mooy will join the club when his National Youth League commitments with the Newcastle Jets are complete early next year.
The club has released Cameron Jones, Caetano Lima, Adam Israel, Keith Shevlin and Dusan Mihajlovic while both Richy and Micky Williams retired at the end of last season.
?We are nearly there with the squad and I?m happy with how the re-building process has gone so far,? Moss said.
?It was time to freshen up in a few areas and I think we?ve done that and there are some very promising local juniors coming through which I?m personally delighted about.
?I?m probably looking for an experienced centre half as a priority at this stage.?
The club will assemble next week for the start of pre-season training and will play Sydney FC?s youth team on December 9.
