Words: Michael Flynn
Image: Keith Eigeland/Football Queensland

Olympic FC will return under the guidance of Jim Bellas for a fourth straight season in 2016 and he says finals football is once again the aim.

Bellas, who is affectionately known as 'Dixie' around the club, boasts the best coaching record in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland – winning 47 league matches over the competition’s first three seasons.

Under Bellas' tutelage Olympic have also been one of the competition’s most consistent teams - winning the Premiership-Championship double in 2013 and qualifying for the top four Finals Series in three consecutive seasons.

He said he was again aiming to secure a top four finish in 2016 despite rival clubs announcing a raft of impressive signings during the off-season.

“I’m very excited for next season. All the teams have realised that they need to strengthen up to have a better comp and they are all doing it,” Bellas explained.

“It’s going to be a very strong competition next year and whoever wins it is going to have to be a very good side.”

Olympic are yet to publicly confirm any signings for next year’s campaign, however Bellas offered an indication of the squad that will don the club’s famous red and white stripes in 2016.

“We’ve kept most of the players and we’re going to give a few of the young boys an opportunity and there’s a few boys from interstate who are going to have a trial and we will have a look at them too,” he said.

“We’ve lost three or four players so it’s probably also more of a rebuilding year for us.”

However, he was quick to add that there will be no excuses as the club seeks to extend its ever-growing reputation in 2016.

“The club wants to finish in the top four and so do I – we all want to win every game,” he said.

A return to the national stages in the Westfield FFA Cup will also be a high priority, with Bellas' describing the team’s preliminary rounds elimination at the hands of Redlands United in this year's competition as “disappointing”.

“Getting into the Final 16 or so is a very big bonus for any club – having home games, getting the people in and creating that atmosphere and also making some money as well,” Bellas concluded.

It is understood that Olympic will begin announcing signings for the 2016 season in coming weeks, with defender Matt Byrne the only confirmed departure so far after his switch to Moreton Bay United.