Report by Tommy Doleman

Gwelup released this graphic to announce Trevor Morgan's appointment

Gwelup Croatia will have a new man in charge when they take on NPLWA – Men’s leaders Floreat Athena on Saturday.

A snap lockdown was not the only surprise across the league last weekend, as 2019 promotion winning coach Taki Nicolaidis left Gwelup following a successful spell at Wishart Street.

Tonight, Gwelup announced former Sorrento and Stirling Lions coach Trevor Morgan as the man to replace Nicolaidis. Morgan, who will be in the dugout on Saturday, has a wealth of experience which includes coaching stints in India, Philippines, Bhutan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Gwelup are currently fifth, having won one of their opening five games. They are four points off a Top Four position and 12 behind leaders Floreat, who have played a game more.

Club captain Blair Govan admits the season hasn't started as planned but he is hopeful of seeing a response against Athena.

"It's tough. The results haven't quite been good enough and with the team we have, we expected to be in a better position than we are right now," Govan said.

"Taki has done a great job with the club but for one reason or another maybe it wasn't working, and the change was made.

"At the end of the day, it's the players who are on the park and it's in our hands mainly. Once that whistle goes it is up to the boys to get the results over the line.

"It's been spoken about as to whether we can do more on the pitch as a team and everyone has put their hand up. It's a shame that Taki has left the club because we got along really well, but the results weren't going our way and the players have got a part to play in that as well.”

Despite their sluggish start to the campaign, Gwelup have lost only once. It has been their inability to see out games that has hit their progress, with stoppage time equalisers conceded against Balcatta and Glory in the past two rounds.

One player who may help to turn their fortunes around is new signing Gustavo Marulanda, with the four-time Golden Boot winner arriving from Bayswater earlier this week. Govan says the Colombian striker can provide the spark to fire Gwelup’s talented squad.

"We've had plenty of chances to win some of those games we have drawn, but we perhaps didn't quite kill off the games when we went ahead, and then sat back too much trying to defend the lead," he said.

“That second goal in the game is crucial to relieving that pressure. So, if we can go out and attack teams with the quality we’ve got then the goals will come.

"As a centre-back I'm over the moon that we have Gus (Gustavo Marulanda) at the club, instead of having to play against him!

"He's been fantastic and his goalscoring record speaks for itself. We're hoping he can come in and add a few goals here to relieve that pressure a bit, but he's also an experienced player, another leader, and one of the best signings we could have wished for right now."

Govan will be facing his former side at the weekend having left Athena in 2016 to play three seasons in the NPL Victoria with Hume City and Oakleigh Cannons. Floreat may have won six from six following a red-hot start to this season's NPL WA competition, but the defender is confident Gwelup can threaten the league leaders on Saturday.

"They're flying at the moment and are playing some good stuff with a really solid team. It's always good to play against these sides, especially when they're on a roll, because it's a challenge to see where we're really at," he said.

"I think we can match it with them if we play well, so hopefully we can go and get the three points and it could be a perfect launchpad to get our season going. We are starting again with a clean slate and this is an opportunity to push on and get a good win on the board."

Elsewhere, ECU Joondalup are out to keep pace with Floreat when they host Perth Glory. Perth SC and Sorrento will look to maintain their early hold on the league's other top four spots when they face Armadale and Balcatta respectively.

There is a meeting between two sides looking to earn their second wins of 2021 when Inglewood United host Rockingham City, while Cockburn will aim to move off the foot of the table when they play Bayswater City at Dalmatinac Park.

All of Saturday's games will kick off at 3pm and be live streamed on Football West's Facebook and YouTube pages.

Fixtures

Round Seven (all 3pm)

Armadale v Perth SC
Cockburn City v Bayswater City
ECU Joondalup v Perth Glory
Gwelup Croatia v Floreat Athena
Inglewood United v Rockingham City
Sorrento v Balcatta