TYING UP TYSON

DAMEN FRANCIS

May 31 2014

Shepparton News

The transfer window is yet to open, but the wheels of change are already in motion at Goulburn Valley Suns.

Inaugural interim chair Geoff Dobson stepped down at Wednesday night’s board meeting and club officials are working to complete the signing of a new senior goalkeeper.

Jerrad Tyson, 24, made 15 appearances at defunct A-League outfit Gold Coast United and spent the past two seasons at rising powerhouse Western Sydney Wanderers.

Tyson was a foundation member of the club, but served as back-up to number one Ante Covi c.

He made his only A-League appearance for the Wanderers in the round 24 clash with Perth Glory on March 23 and was released at the end of the season.

Michael Crisera, who replaced Dobson as Suns interim chair, said the Suns were looking to sign Tyson as an injury replacement for Josh Glover, who returned to England three weeks ago.

Should they fail to receive the green light from Football Federation Victoria, they will have to wait until the mid-season transfer window opens on June 13 to complete the move.

Tyson trained with the team this week and would be the second senior keeper on the Suns’ books, along with present number one, Phil Petrovski.

The Suns have three open spots on their senior playing roster, including one visa spot.

On Dobson’s departure, Crisera thanked him for his hard work and said he would assume the position until a suitable replacement was found.

‘‘We’re on the lookout for more board members and still working with (Greater Shepparton City) Council for administrative support,’’ Crisera said.

‘‘We’ll evaluate where we are on June 30 as we work to become an independent entity.

‘‘I’ll be interim chair, but I’m happy to step aside when we source someone.’’

Dobson was only ever in place to oversee the establishment of the club and he said while there was a long road ahead, the foundations were laid.

‘‘We just needed someone to try and make sure we got our governance right and that was my role,’’ Dobson said.

‘‘The success of these issues are not the players on the pitch, but the administration from the top. You can have all the money and players in the world, it won’t win you many games.

‘‘They’ve got their eyes on someone else who will probably be independent of any other big soccer affiliation and I think that’s the way to go.’’

Dobson said gaining the support of Goulburn North East Football Association clubs was the biggest challenge the Suns faced and delivered a parting message to the Goulburn Valley soccer community.

‘‘It’s time that the GNEFA clubs embraced the concept of having a state-based soccer franchise and I don’t think that has been the case up to date,’’ he said.

‘‘This is a showcase for all good soccer players and they can be seen at a state and national level if we do this right and it’s a chance to showcase the Goulburn Valley and Shepparton in particular.

‘‘FFV has also got to understand, and they do, that a new franchise needs support.’’