John Baird admits Leigh Griffith’s return to Mandurah City has raised the profile of the club around the world.
Former Celtic and Scotland striker Griffiths rejoined the Australian semi-pro outfit on a deal last week.
And the 32-year-old, who featured twice for City last summer before returning home, played his part in Saturday’s State League Night Series final by scoring a penalty in the shootout win over Fremantle City.
Fellow Scot and Mandurah player/boss Baird insists Griffith’s return has boosted the part-timers on and off the pitch,
Baird said: “Since it’s been announced, I’ve had media from all over the world in touch and at the heart of that is the Mandurah City Football Club badge and the eyes on the league we’re in.
"When good players become available you’ve got to try and bring them into the football club, it’s as simple as that.
“This year is a totally different situation now to last year because we’ve got Leigh for the season, whereas last year he came to help us enhance the club and get it out there.
“But what he did do last season was lift standards, which drove us on to win the Top Four Cup.
"I don’t see it any different this time around. The boys want to work and train again to that level."
Meanwhile, Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou feels his side are looking stronger each week as they close in on what looks set to be another memorable season finale.
But he warned they need to maintain their mental discipline and focus on what is immediately in front of them rather than thinking about trebles.
Celtic comfortably came through what looked likely to be one of their biggest challenges of the domestic season on Saturday when they beat Hearts 3-0 at Tynecastle to reach the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Aaron Mooy’s second-minute goal set the tone and, although Joe Hart pulled off an excellent stop from Toby Sibbick midway through the first half, the result was never really in doubt.
Kyogo Furuhashi netted just before the break and Hearts goalkeeper Zander Clark made some good stops before Cameron Carter-Vickers headed a late third.
Celtic, who lead Rangers by nine points in the cinch Premiership, have now won 13 games on the trot and 20 out of 21 since losing to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
When it was put to him they would be hard to stop if they maintain their form, Postecoglou said: “You have hit the nail on the head by saying ‘if’ we continue this form.
“There is always the possibility you won’t if you don’t concentrate, if you aren’t disciplined and work hard every day.
“This group does work hard every day and it’s OK me saying that, but we see it out there.
“You see the end product but I see it from the whole group on a daily basis. They push each other to be the best they can be.
“As a consequence of that, our performances have been really strong and are getting stronger.
“We look a stronger and better team every week than we were at the start of the year. And we weren’t a bad team back then.”
