That is Dave Wessels' lot at the moment, having taken over from Michael Foley as head coach of the Western Force at the very moment the nine-year-old club's future is under a cloud.

You won't hear the South African complaining. As far as Wessels is concerned, it is up to the Force to turn the conversation on its head.

"I think my job as a coach is to buy us the right to have a conversation about our future," he said. "We have to earn the right, through our performances on the field, to convince people we deserve a future in Super Rugby.

"In terms of the conversations that are happening well above my head, what will be will be, but I get the feeling from conversations I've had that the Force has a long and prosperous future ahead of it."

Wessels is hard at work filling out his coaching team and playing roster for next season. Former Toshiba and Waratahs Academy coach Joe Barakat was announced on Thursday as the club's new forwards coach and Wessels revealed he had recruited veteran coach Alan Gaffney to join the side as an attack consultant and general wise head to have on hand.

The Force are close to signing a full time attack coach, who is understood to be another overseas-based Australian. Keen to balance out his own relative inexperience with some battle-hardened wisdom, 33-year-old Wessels asked Gaffney, former Ireland attack coach, Munster coach and Waratahs assistant, to help on a part time basis.

"We're very close to finalising an attack coach who is a bit younger than Alan and has a lot of energy and a great rugby mind, and I think he will benefit from having someone of Alan's experience around," Wessels said.

"[Gaffney's] CV speaks for himself, he's achieved almost everything there is to achieve in rugby. We want him looking at ways we can improve our attack. He's also had experience leading top teams all over the world. He's going to provide insight and a sounding board for myself and our attack coach."

The playing roster presents its own challenges, after the departure of hyped but injury-cursed young centre Kyle Godwin, who has signed with the Brumbies, plus touted future Test prop Guy Millar, who signed with New Zealand Mitre 10 Cup side Southland.

They and former All Blacks halfback Alby Mathewson are the biggest names among a group of 12 players who moved on after the end of last season. Among their replacements, Wessels is most excited about the recruitment of Sydney-raised former Gloucester centre Bill Meakes and homegrown Perth product Curtis Rona, who has been lured back from the NRL.

Meakes played for the Australian men's sevens team but took a chance in Europe two years ago when the Super Rugby offers were thin on the ground. He went on to play 46 matches for Gloucester and earned a recommendation from the Premiership club's Australian coach Laurie Fisher. He returned to Australia and earned a cameo in the Wallabies' Rugby Championship train-on squad, before being sent back to the NRC.

"Billy can play No.12 or No.13 and anybody who's seen him play in the NRC can see he is a talented ball player but also very physical, which is exactly what we're looking for," Wessels said.

"Curtis is a local from Perth, played some junior rugby for us but was then picked up by the NRL and really starred there for the last three years. The opportunity to bring him back home and to add some finishing power to our back line was one we couldn't pass up. We're delighted he's coming back."

Meakes and Rona join the likes of Jono Lance, Dane Haylett-Petty, Luke Morahan and Peter Grant in the back line. In the forwards, captain Matt Hodgson has decided to stay on for another year, front row stalwart Pek Cowan returns, while Test-capped hooker Nathan Charles has moved on. Wallaby debutant Adam Coleman will anchor the second row and it is hoped that joining him will be Richie Arnold, the brother of Wallaby Rory Arnold.

Wessels said he was aware of the challenges facing the Force, who have never made the play-offs in their history.

Super Rugby administrators SANZAAR are in the midst of a review into the competition's structure, with one option canvassing a reduction in teams in Australia and South Africa. It is understood the Australian Rugby Union is also reviewing the structure of the professional game. Maintaining the status quo is also a live option, but the next couple of months loom as uncertain times.

Wessels, who arrived at the Force three years ago via the Stormers and Brumbies, is optimistic, citing the club's full time academy, Future Force, as a major link in the player development pathway.

"Future Force is one year old and in the last game against the Brumbies this year we used seven local guys, which is the largest contingent of homegrown talent the Force have ever fielded.

"We had a number of players who were new to Super Rugby last year, but thanks to the Future Force program, we have a number of young guys who are going to be very good for us in the next 12-18 months."