Things are beginning to look up, both on and off the pitch, for Adelaide United.

After last season's horror showing, in which they finished last on the ladder and endured severe financial troubles, there seems to be some calm finally setting in at Hindmarsh Stadium.

Aurelio Vidmar's late decision to step down as United coach and pursue a Socceroos assistants role threatened to derail the start of the 2010/11 season. However, Dutchman Rini Coolen's limited preparation time with his squad hasn't seemed to matter as they sit atop the A-League ladder.

While the club seems to be doing well at the moment, the same could not be said this time last year.

In May 2009, Adelaide's A-League license was put back in FFA hands after owner Nick Bianco relinquished his role. The club was not seen as financially viable and struggled to get major sponsors on board, while there were even murmurs the club could become extinct.

While that was happening off the pitch, the red's performance on it was nothing better. Supporters became infuriated with United's inconsistency - brilliant one week and horrible the next, largely a result of Vidmar's attacking philosophy. They finished the season on the bottom, a far cry from the success of the previous season in which they not only made the A-League final, but also the Asian Champions League final.

Yet in the face of this turmoil, Adelaide businessman Alan Young was conspiring a plan to bring the club back to where he felt it belonged. Earlier this year, Young outlined his plans for ownership of the club to FFA heavy hitters Ben Buckley and Archie Fraser (who has since resigned). In it, Young planned for United to be initially run by an interim board of both FFA administators and members of his Adelaide Business Consortium, with the eventual goal of bringing the club back into South Australian control. This was made official in April. Young now plans to inject much needed funds into the club and, eventually, have a model in which the members have a say on club issues.

In what is becoming commonplace in Australian football, Adelaide appointed a dutch manager in Coolen, whose credentials at clubs such as FC Twente made him the best candidate of a bunch of 60. Inevitably, some supporters were sad to see Vidmar go, but the enigmatic coach's decision to depart the 'pissant town' is probably for the best.

Regarding the playing roster, the addition of no.10 Marcos Flores and Sergio Van Dijk (who was signed after playing with Adelaide in the Champions League) will be sure to bring spectators through the gates. This, as well as the ever improving Matthew Leckie, ensures the red's are arguably the best attacking force in the league.

After clinically disposing of last year's champs Sydney on the weekend, Adelaide looked to be back as one of the A-League's best teams.