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Fong has opted for another foreign coach to carry the baton in 2015-2016, even in the unlikley event that Roar, which snuck into the finals after Perth was demoted to seventh place for salary cap rorting, goes on to win the championship.

"We're going to have a fairly fresh approach next season and we'll get to (announce) that when we are ready," Fong said.

"Frans has always been an interim coach and we're grateful for what he has done for the club."

It's believed that discussions with a long-term replacement have been ongoing since last year.

"We are in comfortable place (in regard to that)," Fong added.

Having stated previously that he would target an up-and-coming coach from overseas, Fong confirmed: "That hasn't changed and was always in the playbook."

The Bakrie Group's senior vice president also dispelled the commonly held perception that former Netherlands international Thijssen, who arrived in November to take over from the sacked Mike Mulvey, would be retained as technical director next season.

"I don't know where it came from that he was going to be technical director," Fong said. "I have read it a few times and that's not the case. I have certainly never said that.

"And he has never asked me about it either."

Though committed to an alternative approach long-term, Fong backed his coach's stance in fielding a weakened team in the controversial 1-0 weekend loss to Melbourne Victory last weekend.

It was a ploy that paid off as Roar won 1-0 at Beijing Guoan on Tuesday night to keep its AFC Champions League hopes alive.

"Frans was criticised for leaving out our more experienced players and it was a risky decision," Fong said. "But on the flip side we played well in an entertaining game and good on him for making that decision.

"Overall, he's done a pretty good job. We would like to have got in the finals by the conventional route but it wasn't to be and we've been very lucky there."

Fong dismissed assertions that the club had been snubbed by Socceroos assistant coach Aurelio Vidmar in its quest for a new coach.

"I smile at all these rumours. I read that one and and I don't know anything about it. It happens every day," Fong said.

"We won't be announcing anything just yet ... we want to get the season out of the way first. And then we'll get into that."

He was careful not to buy into the debate over Glory's punishment for cap breaches in excess of $400,000, saying: "I was a sideline observer. It's best not to get involved (in commenting) on something that doesn't have anything to do with you. We've just focused on doing what we were doing.

"Of course, we'd prefer to be in the finals on merit, but that didn't happen.

"We've had a very tough season with injuries and an extremely difficult schedule with the Asian Champions League and a different look to the squad in the back half of the season.

"It's taken longer to adjust than we hoped but we've had a lot of youngsters given a chance and that's exciting and refreshing for the future."

Roar will travel to Sydney, Wellington or Adelaide for an elimination final next week after its final home game of the regular season against Newcastle Jets on Friday night.

"I'm very confident we're going to have a good run in the finals. We're going to have a good squad available, other than (injured defender) Luke DeVere and I have a positive feeling about it.

"Nothing can be taken for granted in the finals and anything is going to be possible. We won't be worried about travelling, and the guys will want to make the most of the chance they have been given."

Fong has no issues with the salary cap as it stands and is not agitating for it to lifted, or even scrapped.

"It's there for a reason and I don't think anything needs to change," he said. "The league would be too unbalanced otherwise.

"Some clubs have deeper pockets than others and it evens things up."