Billionaire American owner Bill Foley’s vision for the newcomers is to field a largely homegrown line-up, with a smattering of visa players.

And with that goal in mind, newly appointed director of football Terry McFlynn is already on the recruitment trail, with Auckland allowed to approach players coming off contract from January 1.

McFlynn, whose history with Corica includes two A-League titles as a player at Sydney FC and one in their off-field collaboration as coach and general manager, arrives in New Zealand imminently with a notebook already bulging with potential signings.

Though McFlyn is unwilling to divulge potential targets, FTBL understands that veteran Wellington Phoenix attacker Kosta Barbarouses, 33, is on a long list which includes All Whites winger Marco Rojas, 32, who is a free agent after departing Chilean giants Colo Colo in mid-2023.

The scroll of names is also thought to include the likes of Perth Glory’s understudy goalkeeper Oli Sail, who is looking to exit the club after losing the top spot.

Compatriot, Turkey-based former Newcastle Jets and Brisbane attacker Joey Champness, 26, is also under consideration along with defender Nando Pijnaker, another Kiwi international,  currently based in Ireland with Sligo Rovers.

Auckland City midfielder Cameron Howieson is seen as capable of making the step up whilst ex-Wellington Phoenix right back Callan Elliot, currently without a club, is a possibility.

Socceroos attacker Brando Borrello, who has impressed with Western Sydney Wanderers since his return from Germany, could be a more high profile target.

Another non-Kiwi attracting attention is in-demand Newcastle Jets defender Mark Natta.

McFlynn stressed that all possibilities are on the table as the club begins building its roster backed up by Foley’s deep pockets - his Black Knight Football group also owns English Premier League club Bournemouth and holds a stake in French Ligue Un club FC Lorient.

“The owner has a vision of a highly competitive team constructed around a core of Kiwi players, with the squad rounded out by visa imports,” McFlynn told FTBL.

“It’s a formula both he and we believe can bring success and give the club a strong identity.
“We’re open to multiple possibilities because we’re building a club from scratch but those are the core principles.

“We have six months before the start of pre-season so we have to move swiftly but wisely in building a team that will hit the ground running in a very competitive competition.

“That’s the challenge - however we believe this project is going to attract a lot of quality players and individuals.”