Brisbane Roar will have a distinctly British feel under new coach Robbie Fowler with a trio of United Kingdom-based players joining the A-League club on Tuesday.
The Liverpool legend has raided England’s lower leagues to secure Welsh striker Aaron Amadi-Holloway and defender Macaulay Gillesphey while defender Tom Aldred has also signed on following his release from Scottish Premier League club Motherwell.
The trio join Irish striker Roy O’Donovan as new faces at the Roar under Fowler while Australian under-23 international Nick D’Agostino and New Zealand full-back Dane Ingham have both left the club.
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D’Agostino and Ingham have moved west to join Perth Glory on two-year deals, taking the tally of players to depart the Roar following their disastrous 2018-19 season to 16.
Aldred is a 28-year-old English-born defender who has represented Scotland at under-19 level.
He said playing under ex-England striker Fowler in his first full-time head coaching role was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
“I met with Robbie and he put in light what he is trying to do and it was something that really attracted me,” Aldred said.
“It’s a very competitive league that has featured some quality players and it’s one that I’m really looking forward to testing myself in.”
Amadi-Holloway, a Welsh under-17 and under-19 international, joins the Roar from English League One side Shrewsbury Town, where the 26-year-old scored three goals in 38 appearances.
Gillesphey, 23, also comes to Queensland from England’s third tier, where the centre-back plied his trade for Carlisle United after a youth career at English Premier League club Newcastle United.
Australian pair Aiden O’Neill and Brad Inman are among further signings the club are expected to announce later in the week.