Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Getty Images

Newly appointed Western Pride head coach Karl Dodd wants to see the club take on the characteristics of the strong Ipswich teams of the past.

Dodd, a former Hyundai A-League player with the then-named Queensland Roar, Wellington Phoenix and North Queensland Fury, was confirmed as the club’s senior head coach for 2015 this week by Pride officials.

Born and raised on the Gold Coast, Dodd will also bring to the position his PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland experiences after playing with Moreton Bay United and 2014 Premiers Palm Beach.

Dodd said he was looking forward to the challenge of improving upon Pride’s twelfth place finish to the 2014 season that saw the club drop the points in 19 of their 24 fixtures.

“The aim for next season for me is that I want to recruit players that have the potential to go on to the next level,” Dodd explained.

“It’s a development club and I don’t think we’re going to win the league just yet. But I want to build a very competitive squad and focus on the younger players and those with potential.”

The 33-year old said he recalled plenty of tough battles against Ipswich-based clubs throughout his career and that he will look to impart the same qualities in Pride teams going forward.

“I remember playing against them in the old state league and they were very formidable opponents,” Dodd said.

“They were intelligent and good footballers as well and it was tough playing against them.”

“I want to bring in that same game intelligence and decision-making, focusing on solving problems out on the field and execution with and without the ball.”

“But I also want to see that community engagement and the Ipswich players coming through. We want our players to really represent the area.”

Earlier this week Pride confirmed that former Olympic FC assistant Tim Brown, who had agreed a preliminary deal with the club to coach the side next season, had decided to opt out of the position.

Dodd said the timing had been fortuitous for him to take on his first full-time senior coaching job after previously working as a high performance coach with Newcastle Jets, which included coaching the club’s Under 18 NPL side.

“It was probably good timing because I was still undecided what I wanted to do but I wanted to get into coaching," Dodd explained.

“It’s a very good option for me. It’s a developmental club and pretty new, so I will get in there and learn the ropes and learn my craft as a coach.”

Western Pride will commence senior trials for the 2015 PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland season next week.