Western United set sights on Rudan

EMERGING A-League coaching sensation Mark Rudan’s path to join Western United has been cleared, after the expansion club ceased talks with overseas options.

Chelsea assistant coach Gianfranco Zola had been targeted by Western United’s soccer chiefs, who had earmarked a big-name foreigner for their inaugural season.

The A-League’s 11th club, which will play its first two seasons out of Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium, wanted to make a statement signing, and had sounded out the management of ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, although talks did not advance.

But the hit-and-miss record of foreign coaches and Rudan’s stunning debut ALeague campaign at unfancied Wellington Phoenix convinced Western United chiefs to focus their pursuit on the man across the Tasman.

News Corp understands that no deal has yet been signed, but Western United chiefs have tabled Rudan, 43, a competitive offer and are confident of securing his signature.

Western United has already signed its assistant coaches, legendary Bentleigh Greens coach John Anastasiadis and USA-based ex-Central Coast assistant John Hutchinson.