North Queensland Fury boss Ian Ferguson is upbeat over their chances of landing FC Basle wing-back Scott Chipperfield. "We're hopefully very close with Scott. I think everything has been agreed and now it's down to lifestyle change for him and his wife and his kids," Ferguson told the Cairns Post.

"If Scott agrees to come that's what it will be down to.

"I'm reasonably happy with how negotiations went and I'm reasonably happy with the feedback I'm getting, but I've had players before say they would come and have them disappear off the radar at the last minute.

"But Scott's an honest boy and open with his beliefs with where he wants to be with his career.

"I think the A-League would be fantastic for him at this time of his career."