New Gold Coast United coach Kristian Rees may tap into Knights connections for 2019 NPL build

NEW Gold Coast United coach Kristian Rees admits he may tap into his Gold Coast Knights connections as he looks to assemble a 2019 squad capable of challenging the NPL’s best.

NEW Gold Coast United coach Kristian Rees admits he may tap into his Gold Coast Knights connections as he looks to assemble a 2019 squad capable of challenging the NPL’s best.

Appointed as United’s replacement for Sean Lane last week, the former A-League defender is fresh off a stint as assistant coach to Grae Piddick at Gold Coast Premier League champions Knights.

Rees, 38, also played alongside Knights stars Eoghan Murphy, Jarrod Kyle and Justyn McKay during his successful stint at Palm Beach from 2014-16.

With United’s 2018 squad brimming with youth, Rees said he was on the lookout for some experienced campaigners to improve on this year’s 10th-placed finish.

“I’ve got a good relationship with a lot of (Knights players) and I’ve played with a lot of them so that may be something I look at,” Rees said.

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New Gold Coast United coach Kristian Rees. Picture: Richard Gosling

“I think you’ve got to try and find a balance (between youth and experience). The way I feel you can get success is you need some experience and then you can build around the experience.

“That’s what I’ll plan to do if I can get those players and do it on a budget. Fortunately, helping out as an assistant this year I was able to see a lot of games in the Gold Coast league and there really is a lot of good boys floating around.

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“I’ve already had a chat to a few of them and I’ll really be pushing hard to get some of them (to United). I want to bring in a culture and bring in some boys that really want to work hard and really have a great attitude to progressing and working as a team more than anything.

“I’m excited about it and I really think there’s some good opportunities there.”

Gold Coast Knights defender Eoghan Murphy, who played alongside Kristian Rees at Palm Beach. Picture: Jerad Williams

Rees has also left the door open for former Gold Coast United A-League teammate Michael Thwaite.

Former Socceroo and Burleigh resident Thwaite, 35, has been without a club since leaving Western Sydney Wanderers at the end of May and has trained with both United and the Knights.

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“Physically, he’s really fit and he’s an unbelievable talent and I keep in regular touch with him. I’ll have a chat with him and see where he’s at,” Rees said.

“He’s someone who fits exactly the mould of the club and what they’re trying to do. He’s big on pushing youth and if he was interested in (joining the club) I would definitely be keen on working with him so we’ll just have to wait and see.”