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FOWLER SET FOR A-LEAGUE CHALLENGE
BBC 15 March 2009
Robbie Fowler is set to start the latest chapter in his career after touching down in Australia on Sunday.
The 33-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the North Queensland Fury who play in the Australian A-League.
Fury are a new franchise in the league and Fowler admitted it is a step into the unknown for everyone involved.
"This is a brand new team and until all the players get together and we train day in, day out, we will see how it goes," Fowler said.
The former Liverpool and England striker has been brought in as the club's marquee signing and was presented to press in glorious sunshine, poolside at a casino.
Despite the glamorous surroundings the striker was quick to talk business.
"In terms of any football club you want to continue to win games, if you are winning games that breeds confidence and confidence helps you to do well in everything," he said.
Fowler will start pre-season training in Townsville on 1 April before the season starts in August.
The man nicknamed "God" by the Anfield faithful, plans to move his wife and four children to Australia within the next month and said he did not have to work too hard to sell the club or the lifestyle to his family.
"I had nothing but good things to tell my family about the football side of things and the lifestyle opportunities North Queensland can offer us," he said.
Fowler's last club was Blackburn Rovers where a pay-as-you-play deal ended in December and question marks have been raised about a lingering hip problem.
But Fury manager Ian Ferguson said he has no doubt Fowler will be ready to commit to full-scale preparation.
"We had extensive medical tests done on Robbie prior to his signing and he'll start training with the rest of the squad on April 1," Ferguson said.
"Because of the heat and humidity we will ease him into the physical work with three days a week for the first month."
As the highest-profile former Premier League star to join the A-League it had been suggested that Fowler would be asked to captain his new side.
"It is not something I have thought about," Fowler said.
"The manager picks the captain and that is his job. I am not going to go up and ask him I want to be captain. He will see players on the training pitch then he will make that decision himself."
Fowler has previously played for Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester City, Cardiff and Blackburn, notching 230 goals in 425 starts and 91 substitute appearances.
The striker also played 26 games for England and scored seven goals.
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