Vicki Linton leads Canberra United's new era as W-League coach

The Canberra Times can reveal Linton will be unveiled as Canberra's W-League coach for the 2020-21 season on Friday morning.

The former Matilda will step into the role on Monday to replace ex-coach Heather Garriock after returning from a three-year stint in Chicago with the US Soccer Federation's development academy.

But Linton concedes ending the longest finals drought in club history will be no mean feat with the coronavirus pandemic clouding the league's immediate future.

Clubs are waiting to be told about a kick off date, season length and salary cap, leaving Linton's plans to start rebuilding the club in a holding pattern.

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However the former Matildas assistant and ex-Melbourne Victory coach is determined to begin scouring the Canberra Premier League and interstate competitions to identify recruitment targets.

"I'm keen to [turn the club into a powerhouse again], and I know the club is as well. It may take some time to do that," Linton said.

"The uncertainty of this season coming up, we're working through that. Let's get through that and then build from there. There are so many unknowns at present.

"FFA is still working through a lot of things on what the season will look like. We're hoping it will be a fairly standard season, that's just a hope. We don't know what might happen. We're just going to have to wait and see what happens.

"I've already started considering [the roster]. When I officially start on Monday I will be talking to the key people at Canberra United and we will get going on a recruiting list of local players and potential interstate players, and [we'll see] what it looks like for foreign players.

"I want to get down [to Canberra] and start seeing some of the NPL while that season is running."

A host of Canberra players face an uncertain future with Matildas young gun Karly Roestbakken at the top of the list, while former captain Ellie Brush has entertained the thought of a swansong in the capital.

Roestbakken harboured ambitions to return to the W-League during the Toppserien's off-season, but she has conceded she may not come home for the 2020-21 campaign amid concerns of a schedule clash.

The W-League is slated to be played between December and July next season, with officials working through the potential impacts of the pandemic to give Linton a bizarre welcome back into the Australian fold.

Linton was forced to return to Australia in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, but the 46-year-old admits she already had one eye on a W-League return.

A contract with Canberra brings Linton back into the W-League fold for the first time since she left the helm of the Victory in 2012.

It was there she oversaw the development of players like Matildas defender Steph Catley, who linked up with Arsenal in England's Women's Super League earlier this month.

"It's familiar at Canberra United at the moment with a couple of their talented Young Matildas and players coming up through the academy," Linton said.

"Opportunities don't often come up in the W-League as well. I was keeping an eye on back home anyway, this is a great opportunity to be able to come back. It's great to be back in Australia and I'm excited to get back into first team coaching again.

"I'm also excited, based on my last three years of working with the academy, and bringing all I saw in the US and the knowledge I have gained, back into this environment.

"The role was focused on improving the everyday environment for player development within US Soccer's academy. Initially part of the role was talent identification for youth national teams and running training centres for potential players.

"There is a lot going on in the US at the moment, it's a strange time to try to travel. There were a lot of restrictions we had to work through. I got a lot out of my time there."