Glory retain influential trio

Three of Perth Glory’s most influential players from the club’s first season in Hyundai A-League competition – Jamie Harnwell, Jamie Coyne and Naum Sekulovski – have all committed their future to the club.

Club captain, Harnwell, spent more time on the pitch than any other Glory player last season as the only Perth man to start every single Hyundai A-League match.

Fellow defender Coyne registered the fourth highest number of minutes on the pitch (1,503) during the 2005/06 season, from his 17 starts, with only Bobby Despotovski, Jason Petkovic and Harnwell having put in more time in matches.

As well as being a key member of the Glory defence, Coyne provided more goals than any other player in the squad, making four goal assists from his expert right sided delivery, and scoring his first ever goal for the club against the New Zealand Knights in round 19.

Left winger, Naum Sekulovski, was one of the club’s top scorers over last season, scoring five goals from 14 starts, with only main strikers Despotovski and Damian Mori netting more goals over the campaign.

Sekulovski also showed that he can be a versatile player, stepping in as a striker and at left back when injuries affected the squad.

Both Coyne and Harnwell won NSL Championships with the club in 2003 and 2004, and retaining the three key players from the first season in the Hyundai A-League gives the Glory strong foundations to build on for next season.

Harnwell, 28, has made 167 appearances for Perth Glory and celebrated at the beginning of this week when his wife, Karen, gave birth to their first child, Jenna Elizabeth.

Coyne, 25, has now made 50 first team appearances for the Glory having returned from Dutch football with ADO Den Haag for the start of the Hundai A-League.

Sekulovski, 23, made 67 appearances in the old NSL for Eastern Pride, Wollongong Wolves and Parramatta Power, before his move west, playing 17 times (three as substitute) for the Glory in 2005/06.

Glory technical manager, Mich d’Avray, said: “Both Jamie Coyne and Jamie Harnwell are local players who have served the club well in recent seasons. They are both strong and determined defenders who know what it takes to win Championships and their experience with Perth Glory over a number of years will be vital as the club looks to rebuild for next season.”

“Naum Sekulovski is one of the most gifted left sided players in the A-League at the moment and weighed in with his fare share of goals last season. He is still young and if he works hard can make an even bigger impact next season so we are pleased to retain his services for another year.”

“It is vital that we have a competitive squad for next season and retaining three of our best players from the first season in the A-League will help ensure that is the case,” d’Avray added.

Defenders Jamie Coyne and Jamie Harnwell have extended their spell with the club for the next two seasons while Sekulovski has committed until the end of the 2006/07 campaign.

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