Soccer: the Knights want a new Yorke

Dwight Yorke. Paul Kane / Getty Images

The Knights are looking at bringing in a marquee player for their second season in the hope of winning on the park and winning over fans.

After a dreadful first season in the A-League, Knights management knows it needs to make drastic changes, and it hopes a top-quality import will be a crucial ingredient.

Each club can bring in a player over the existing A$1.5m salary cap and Sydney FC had the most high-profile signing in former Manchester United and Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke.

"Without question [we are looking at bringing in a marquee player]," chief executive Steve O'Hara said. "I have flagged that to the board and, while it comes down to money, I wouldn't discount it."

While O'Hara admitted it was unlikely they could bring in someone of Yorke's quality, standing or wage demands, it was more realistic to sign a player in the same mould as Adelaide's Qu Shengqing, Melbourne's Archie Thompson or Newcastle's Ned Zelic - the other three marquee players in the league. Perth recruited Brian Deane but the veteran striker returned to the UK early in the season.

"I'm aware that confidence is at an all-time low in this country and we're trying to change that," O'Hara added. "A marquee player would go some way to say to the public that, 'yes, we got it wrong last season but this season watch out'. It's all about flair and winning."

Yorke was able to attract good crowds wherever he played and often added as many as 3000-4000 extra fans when playing away from home. More than 4200 turned out to North Harbour Stadium to watch Sydney on December 30, compared to 1900 for the Knights' previous home game against Melbourne.

Sydney, who qualified in second for the A-League playoffs, averaged crowds in excess of 17,000 when they had budgeted for 14,000.

Sydney operations manager and former New Zealand Soccer chief executive Bob Patterson said the investment in Yorke had proved fruitful and recommended other clubs follow in their footsteps.

"His contribution both on and off the field is nothing short of outstanding. He's an excellent ambassador for the club."

Patterson said the general consensus among Australian clubs was that if they were going to sign a marquee player, they needed to go for someone of Yorke's quality.

"To get value for money it has to be a Dwight Yorke, or don't bother," Patterson said.

The Knights are hoping to sign as many as four top-quality imports, as well as a handful of All Whites, but don't expect to announce any player signings until the end of March.

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