Ottawa Fury FC wanted an experienced goalkeeper coach following the resignation of David Bellemare at the end of the spring season.

Mission accomplished, at least for a couple weeks, as the team convinced Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar to leave his home in Newfoundland for Ottawa.

While the so-called "guest" coaching gig is officially for just two weeks, it seems likely Grobbelaar -- who played 13 seasons for Liverpool in the English Premier League between 1980 and 1994 -- is being auditioned by the club as much as he is giving the club a tryout.

"For now he's here two weeks to see if he enjoys it (but) I think after one day he already likes it," Fury coach Marc Dos Santos said after training Wednesday. "Hopefully he's going to stay at least until the end of the season."

Born in South Africa but raised in Rhodesia (which would become Zimbabwe), Grobbelaar played for clubs in both countries before joining the Vancouver Whitecaps of the original North American Soccer League before being noticed by Liverpool while on loan to Crewe Alexandra in 1980. He'd go on to make 628 appearances with Liverpool, winning the League championship six times, the FA Cup three times and the European Cup in 1983-1984.

Dos Santos likely could have found a reasonably qualified coach to fill Bellemare's job sooner, but like any other important club decision, he wasn't about to rush into anything.

"If we have somebody like Bruce here it's because we're investing (in the team) and we're trying to do everything, not for only the Ottawa Fury, but for the (fans) that are going to come here," he said. "We want this club to improve every day."

Fury keeper Devala Gorrick said it was a thrill to have a coach with Grobbelaar's background at the club.

"I grew up watching Bruce on old VHS tapes when I was kid," Gorrick said, laughing. "I've always admired him, to have him as a goalie coach is fantastic. He's a great guy, has a great attitude and wants to push us as best he can."

Grobbelaar, 56, said he was happy to get the call from Dos Santos.

"He gave me a call and asked me if I could come and assist the keepers and be a guest of Ottawa Fury," he said. "This is a beautiful pitch and stadium. It's quite exciting."

GORRICK STARTS SUNDAY

As much as a good goalie controversy seems to be more of a North American hockey concept -- a fact Dos Santos likes to point out, especially since the signing of keeper Romuald Peiser -- it's hard to overlook the suddenly crowded Fury net.

But while you couldn't really blame Gorrick for being a little put out by the signing of Peiser, a skilled keeper from the Portuguese Premier League, Fury FC's current top keeper plans to use the move as incentive to improve his game.

"Everyone here wants to start and play every single minute of every game," Gorrick said Wednesday, adding that Peiser's addition is motivation for not only he to raise his game, but also Marcel DeBellis and Chad Bush.

That said, Gorrick, who will start Sunday for the first match at TD Place, isn't just going to give up the net. For one, he's too competitive. He's a goalie, after all. For another, the team's back end proved solid again in Edmonton, with Gorrick and defender Mason Trafford playing key roles in preserving the clean sheet in a scoreless draw. In fact, the back end that struggled at times early in the spring season is suddenly very solid as a unit, with Drew Beckie, Maykon and Omar Jarun all proving to be skilled presences on the back line.

Gorrick said Peiser is a "good guy" who has the right attitude.

"He didn't come in pushing anyone aside, he came in with the same attitude that all three of us have, which is to train hard and to work together to push each other," Gorrick said.

It seems as though it will come down to the better keeper playing. Simple as that.

"Gorrick played against Edmonton, we had a clean sheet he's ready to go again and that's the way it's going to work until we feel we need to make a change," Dos Santos said Wednesday.

YOUNG BLOOD

Standout Fury Academy forward Jacob Schroeter, who suited up with some of the NASL squad for a recent exhibition series in Quebec and an intersquad game at TD Place, is getting a chance to continue developing with the pros.

The 17-year-old, who is off to Queen's University on scholarship in the fall, said the players are already treating him like one of them.

"I just got an earful from a few of the players today," said a smiling Schroeter after training Wednesday.

Come on guys, who's chirping the kid?

"It's instructional, it's not getting down on you, it's helping you get better and that's what I'm looking to do, that's why I'm here," he said.

He said it's a completely different experience playing at this level.

"It makes me think faster, move faster, play faster," he said. "Everything, honestly, is faster."

Twitter: @chrishofley