The Canberra A-League bid have signed veteran coach Ron Smith as its head of football.

Smith helped build the AIS Centre of Excellence and headed the academy through Australia's "golden era" which produced countless Socceroos and culminated at the 2006 World Cup.

Former Socceroos coach Ron Smith.

The former interim Socceroos manager was head coach at the AIS from 1986 to 1996 and developed the likes of Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill and John Aloisi.

Smith will be responsible for talent identification and oversee coaching appointments if Canberra are successful in securing an A-League licence.

He'll also develop a high performance program for the expansion team and work with clubs across the region to ensure the best players are given a pathway.

Canberra will submit its final application to Football Federation Australia on August 31, before the governing body announce two teams to join the A-League for the 2019-20 season on October 31.

More to come. 

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