Dandenong Thunder's fall from NPL Victoria has sparked an ambitious plan to rise again

Dandenong Thunder are preparing for life outside NPL Victoria, but new head coach Safi Ayoush has already set his sights on an immediate return to the top flight.

Following a turbulent 2026 campaign marked by financial difficulties, a player exodus and relegation to VPL1, Thunder face a significant rebuilding job ahead of next season.

But Ayoush - who fled war-torn Syria with his family - is refusing to lower expectations.

"We might surprise everyone but as a coach I'm always going to say we're going for first position and to win the title," Ayoush told the Herald Sun.

The new coach and former South Melbourne Under-23 boss, who has been tasked with restoring stability at the former NPL Victoria powerhouse, revealed the club are looking to rebuild approximately 30 per cent of their playing squad.

"We are rebuilding but I'm not going to call it from scratch, I'm going to say 30 per cent," he said.

With pre-season approaching, Ayoush is turning his attention to recruitment, particularly young players seeking opportunities in senior football.

"The committee has given me a green light to support talented young players and that's what I'm going to work on," he explained.

His connections with A-League academies via Western United are expected to play a role in reshaping the squad, although the challenge extends beyond simply assembling a competitive team for 2027.

For Ayoush, the priority is ensuring Thunder avoid the cycle of short-term spending and instability that has undermined clubs across the competition.

"At the same time, it's important to build the foundations of the project to keep it for two or three years, a lot of clubs bring in the players and then the year after everything crashes - we need to build in the right way."