TAREE Wildcats have still to announce a coach for next season's Coastal Premier League football competition, but club officials are already looking at bolstering the 2021 roster.
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The Wildcats had a get-together with current and prospective players last month.
"We've already picked up a few younger players who have come through the system,'' Taree president Ben Sedlen said.
However, Sedlen said acquiring some experienced footballers will be a priority for the Wildcats as they approach 2021.
The Wildcats fielded one of the youngest squads in this season's truncated premier league and Sedlen, who coached the team, said this was an area the club had to improve.
Sedlen coached the team this season, but will relinquish the role next year.
Former captain-coach Jordan Howard is one player the Wildcats would like to have back in their ranks.
"I haven't spoken to Jordan since the end of last season, but I'll get around to that,'' Sedlen said.
Howard was rated one of the best players in the former Mid North Coast Premier League.
However, he told the Times previously the increased travel involved with the CPL was a factor in his decision not to turn out with the Wildcats this year.
"Jordan's too good a player for the local competition,'' Sedlen said of the FMNC Southern League.
Sedlen reiterated that he doesn't believe travel is an issue in the CPL - a competition that takes in 10 clubs from Taree to Coffs Harbour.
Taree is one of five Football Mid North Coast clubs involved, the others from North Coast Football.
"The club provides a free bus for the players and it's only a couple of hours to Coffs Harbour now,'' he said.
"I was surprised how quickly the time goes.''
The Wildcats had to play four games in the Coffs Harbour area this year.
This year's inaugural CPL season was reduced to one round when tighter COVID-19 protocols put in place in August stopped travel between clubs in different zones. The competition was scheduled to kickoff in March but this was delayed until July 4 because of the lockdown.
However, officials are confident the 2021 version will be a complete two round, home and away campaign.
While the Wildcats are still to announce a coach, Sedlen assured the process is well underway and interviews have been conducted.
"We don't usually start training until January, so there's still plenty of time,'' he said.
Taree made an 11th hour decision to nominate for this year's competition, applying a fortnight before the season was due to start to become the fifth FMNC club involved.
