Newly-appointed head coach Alex Gaetani will team up with the crew that secured titles for the club’s Northern Championship and reserve sides and led a competitive campaign in the under-18s.

Last season’s seniors and reserves coaches Lynden Prince and Zach Taylor will remain involved along with under-18 masterminds Andy Hall and Frank Compton, goalkeeping coach Chris Rademacher and technical director Alan Eadie.

Eadie said the Windsor Park club is ready for the challenge of stepping up and having to field an extra team.

“We are under no illusions that it is going to be a learning curve and survival is the first step but hopefully we can build long-term success and I think Alex is a good fit for that,” he said.

“He is highly regarded as both a technical and tactical coach so is a good fit for Riverside. We might need to add some experience but if we keep the Championship side from this season together we have a good base. We think the club as a whole is set to be a very competitive NPL side.”

Gaetani, who played with Riverside, Kingborough and in the Gold Coast premier league, said he is on the hunt for players with NPL experience.

“Look at Devonport and South Hobart, development and improvement has been the basis of their success,” he said.

“So development and improvement of the current playing group come first but then recruitment becomes part of the picture when you are looking to be successful.”