With the opening exchanges of the 2010 Brisbane Premier League season only a stone's throw away, we thought it time to catch up with the boss, Kieran Cooper and get his thoughts on a range of issues.

Read what he has to say on the quality of the league, Rovers Premier Cup woes, players to look out for in 2010 and what he has in store for that all important clash with Capalaba on February 20th.

Firstly a quick note on 2009; after the disappointment of that final league game, what can you take from last season as we head into 2010?

Yes 2009 ended on a sour note for me. Not as far as my players go, or the fact we didn’t win the league. It was simply the way we lost it. Some things are out of our control, that was one of them. The positives from the season far outweigh the negatives.

Can you tell us who you have brought in to the squad, and the reasons why?

I have signed Steve Unsworth to fill a gap I believe we fell short in. He is a quality Striker with plenty of experience. He leads by example and will be a great asset. He is also a great personality in the dressing room.

Rhys Hasting has also returned to us after a very good spell at Mt Gravatt. Another player who has a fantastic personality and will to win. Rhys can play in a number of positions and will always give 100%.

Pablo Aviles is another signing and another player I admire. He can also do a number of jobs for us. He is a player who has had success in the past so he knows what it takes to win. He is fitting in quite nicely.

Matt Tubbs is here to fight Mario Aparicio for the number 1 spot. He has a lot of qualities that I like. Hopefully the competition will make both keepers perform and therefore benefit the team.

Young guns in 2010, Which young players do you think will make a name for themself at Rovers this season?

Well Jake McLean did very well last year so I expect him to kick on. James Donachie is a special one for me. If he keeps going the way he is he will be the next one to the A-League. Adnan Jakupovic is a quality Striker who may figure in 1st team this year, definately another with a lot of potential. It is hard to single out to many because I believe all the players I have from Youth up are here because they have the potential.

Are you happy with the squad you have assembled for 2010?

Of course I am, I assembled them didn’t I?? Haha! My squad are very special to me. I wouldn’t swap them for anybody at this present time. Only time will tell if we are up to that task.

A shake up in the coaching staff with Browny  (Tim Brown) leaving and Kenny Armstrong moving in as your assistant, do you think this will change anything in and around the training ground and dressing room?

Well we have got rid of Browny’s bad Jokes for a start! Of course things will change a little. Tim has been part of the furniture here. Hopefully things will change for the better. It is my job to keep what we have built. So far so good.

Who do you see as the biggest threat to Rochedale regaining the Brisbane Premier League?

In no particular order. Brisbane City, Brisbane Wolves, Easts, Penninsula, Mt Gravatt, Olympic, Redlands, Pine Hills, Pine Rivers, Souths, Taringa, Capalaba, Beenleigh

On paper, who do you think has recruited well? What players outside of RR are the players to watch?

Geez, everybody seems to have recruited well, it is shaping as a very tough season. The players to watch will be all the players from Capalaba as that is who we have first game.

Are you excited by the new look league? 14 teams means plenty of games, throw in Silver Boot, Premier Cup and Finals, it could be a gruelling season...

I am really looking forward to the season. So are all the players. Hopefully they all feel the same way come July/Aug/Sept. I cannot see anybody running away with it. I think you will find a lot of teams beating one another on a regular basis.

Will Rochedale ever win the Premier Cup? Semi Final’s haven’t been too kind to the team over the past few seasons...

WHAT? We have won it twice.. Oops sorry that was in my day haha!! Look I want us to win it every year. We have had the opportunities but have failed to take them. We will try again this year.

Are you happy to see Redlands and Olympic in the BPL in 2010? Did you agree with the decision to include them?

Now you are getting political. If you want my honest opinion, Olympic had half a leg to stand on to be readmitted. For me, Redlands had no leg at all. I know they have a great base and great facilities but the fact is they did not earn a spot. In saying all this they are both here now and they both look very strong so in that respect they will both add to the standard of the league.

An interesting draw see’s us play Capalaba straight up, it will be a good chance to get one over new Capalaba coach Tim Brown early? Do you place any extra importance on this match up because of the history?

Of course playing Capalaba adds a little spice. Tim will want to win and I will want to win. At the end of the day its 3 points up for grabs and we want them. I didn’t particularly enjoy losing to them last season and seeing how they celebrated. That is more of an incentive to me.

Surely you’ll have a few tricks to keep Browny guessing on match day?

Yes I have a few things up my Sleeve. Tabulo in Goal, Tummusiime up front. Things like that. Browny will be surprised.

A lot of ex-Rovers at the Bulldogs, it must please you to see so many familiar faces running around in Queensland’s top league?

Well I never looked at it like that but now that you mention it, yes it does. Sometimes I have mixed feelings on why they left us in the first place. But I suppose overall we have helped them in some way. In saying all that they are now in opposition colours and should be treated that way.

Along the same thought, Smits, Mundy, Tumusiime, Grossman, Way, Schiavo, Brattan, Huke, O’Connor are all names that have gone into full time training at professional clubs over the past five or six years, it must be pleasing to have had (or still have) a part in their careers?

Nothing gives me more pleasure in seeing these boys go on with it. I could be selfish and want them here but I can't bring myself to think that way. I do sometimes scratch my head when some of these boys do not get a better opportunity at A League level because I know what they can do if they are managed right. Maybe time will change that.

Just as a final comment, there has been talk that the league is finally getting back to the kind of quality we saw back in the early 90’s, what do you make of that?

I am looking forward to the league. In regards to your question on is it as good as the 90’s? I would like to say “No Comment” I am biased of course!!

And a final word for the Rovers supporters as we head into a season not to be missed...

I think over the last few years we have played some open attacking football. I think in general our Supporters are very happy with what we are trying to do, and how we go about it. My ideas will not change. It will be more of the same from us.