Miller signing thrills Ferguson

Stung by a second-from-bottom finish last season, the former National Soccer League giant has gone on a spending spree in the off-season in a bid to become a more competitive and respected force.

Top players Miller, Shane Smeltz, Travis Dodd, Dean Heffernan, Bas Van den Brink and Danny Vukovic have been lured to the west as the club attempts to revive its glory days of nearly two decades ago.

But it’s the arrival of Miller from Hibernian that has Ferguson rubbing his hands in expectation.

”Liam is the kind of player who could take us to a new level,” Ferguson told The World Game.

”He comes to Perth with a high reputation, having played for Manchester United, Celtic and Sunderland before joining Hibs.

”He will surprise a few people. He’s a classic box-to-box midfielder and the type of player who has the ability to make things happen for us in the last third of the field.”

Ferguson is under intense pressure to produce results in his second season with Glory, although he is not showing it ... at least in public.

The former Rangers midfielder who faced Celtic “about 44 times with more wins than losses” during a 12-year spell at Ibrox is preparing to face the Hoops for the first time as a coach.

Perth meets Celtic on Saturday night in Celtic’s second tour match, having lost the first game against Central Coast Mariners 1-0 at the weekend.

Ferguson, who has yet to earn the affection of Perth’s fan base, has taken the opportunity to appeal to Glory’s supporters to keep following the club as it makes yet another attempt to build a side capable of seriously challenging for the honours.

In six seasons Perth has made the A-League finals only once.

”Stick by us because we are assembling a top side that will be highly competitive,” is his message to Glory aficionados.

”Fans had every right to expect more from the team last season.

”Finishing second last was just not good so I expected the criticism.

”And we are determined to get it right this time for our faithful fans.

”We have bought well in the off-season and with a new centre half and a midfielder we should have a competitive side with generally two players fighting for each position.

”A lack of depth was one of our major problems last season, mainly because some players did not feel they had serious competition for their spot in the first team.”

So how has he handled the savage and often personal attacks in the media from his club’s frustrated fans?

”The savage criticism never surprised me or bothered me, mainly because I don’t read blogs,” he said.

”People just attacked me without knowing what we were trying to do at the club.

”This was the work of faceless bigots who stood in front of their computers venting their vitriol in writing in blogs.”

The friendly match against Celtic takes place at nib Stadium on Saturday.