Ground revamp hiccup for Glory

A delayed start to the redevelopment of Perth Oval is likely to force Perth Glory into seeking an alternative venue for some of its National Soccer League home matches next season.

The Glory had already planned to play away from home in its first eight games of the new season, scheduled to kick-off on the weekend of September 20, to allow for the work. But the delay could lead it to play some home games elsewhere.

The $10.5 million upgrade of the east Perth ground was expected to be under way last week but the Glory and the Town of Vincent are yet to sign off on the project.

The sticking point is that the Town of Vincent wants the Glory to guarantee a loan of $4.5 million. The State Government is committed to pumping more than $6 million into the project.

Glory chief executive Jeff Dennis would not comment directly on the reasons for the delay. But he said the project "must be commercially driven and in the long term interests of the club and our fans".

Vincent mayor Nick Catania was confident a resolution would be achieved next week and work on sprucing up the ageing facility would proceed soon after.

"The Government is committed, we are committed and Glory has to be committed - they need a home," he said. "We are going through the legal technicalities to ensure that's in place."

The project was "probably a week behind" schedule, Catania said.

Under the original timetable, Perth Oval was due to be completed in time for a November 8 grand re-opening.

Estimates based on the Glory and the Town of Vincent reaching agreement next week - which is not guaranteed - indicate December 6 will be the earliest date for a home game at the redeveloped ground.

Dennis said the club was unlikely to extend its "away" stint any longer than eight successive matches.

"We might have to look at playing games at an alternative venue. That is a possibility," he said.

He stressed the club wanted to limit the number of home games it played away from its traditional home. It still planned to play its first eight matches interstate, despite the associated problems.

Dennis said a temporary venue was not ideal either because it would not provide the same corporate conveniences the club was used to. The WACA Ground, Lathlain Park and Leederville Oval are possible options to Perth Oval.

WA's only NSL club has played its regular home games at Perth Oval since entering the competition in 1996.

Dennis confirmed yesterday the Glory had signed midfielder Tom Pondeljak from grand final opponent Olympic Sharks.

Melbourne Knights, one of Pondeljak's former clubs, was rumoured to have been interested but the Glory won the race for his signature.

Dennis said the club was delighted to have signed the gifted 27-year-old on a two-year deal.

The Glory is also negotiating with Sharks defender Jade North and midfielder Wayne Srhoj.

The West Australian