Australian A League end of season news and rumours

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Perth Glory end contracts for five players Perth Glory coach Ron Smith announced on Thursday that Stuart Young, Mimi Saric, Luka Glavas, Mark Robertson and Adrian Webster would not have their contracts extended for next season. With a tough season behind them, in which the team won only five out of 22 matches, Smith was forced to make wholesale changes to a team that has also recently lost veteran Bobby Despotovski. Webster's absence will free up a place for another foreign player with Smith hoping that the New Zealand-born player can make way for an injection of overseas flair. Currently, Perth has two international players on their list, Leo Bertos and Jeremy Christie, both from New Zealand. Young, who finished the season as the clubs second leading goal-scorer, will leave a sizeable gap in Glory's attacking structure. After returning to Australia from a career in the UK, Robertson's career has been hampered by injury and the midfielder only managed two matches for the season. The coach spoke highly of Robertson and regretted that the team were not able to see him perform at his best. Smith also wished young strikers Mimi Saric and Luka Glavas all the best and assured them that their football careers would continue.

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Re: Aaustralian A League end of season news and rumours Central Coast Mariners release three players The Central Coast Mariners have today confirmed that defenders Wayne O’Sullivan and Vuko Tomasevic and midfielder Noel Spencer have not been offered new contracts for the 2007/08 season and have been granted permission to speak with other clubs with a view to securing new deals elsewhere. Spencer’s Mariners career saw the Sydney-born midfielder captain the Central Coast to four domestic Grand Final appearances – including the inaugural Hyundai A-League showpiece at Aussie Stadium in March 2006. Spencer departs the Central Coast as the club’s second highest capped player and equal fourth most prolific goal scorer, having notched 55 appearances and 7 goals in all competitive matches spanning two seasons in yellow and navy. O’Sullivan, like Spencer, was one of the cornerstone members of the Mariners’ 2005/06 Grand Final charge, starting all but three of the Mariners’ Hyundai A-League matches in season one and netting one regular season goal. O’Sullivan recorded 47 competitive appearances for the Central Coast over two seasons – making the former Irish youth international the Mariners’ equal sixth highest capped player of all time. Tomasevic was one of coach Lawrie McKinna’s five new signings for the 2006/07 Hyundai A-League season, having joined the Mariners via NSW Premier League heavyweights the Marconi Stallions. Tomasevic started each of the Mariners 2006 Pre-Season Cup matches and made eleven Hyundai A-League appearances.

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Re: Aaustralian A League end of season news and rumours Che Bunce is reportedly on the verge of signing with SPL club Dundee Utd.

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Re: Aaustralian A League end of season news and rumours Queensland release two players Queensland Roar FC have confirmed that defenders Chad Gibson and Remo Buess will not be offered new contracts for the 2007/08 season and have been granted permission to speak with other clubs with a view to securing new deals elsewhere. Roar CEO, Mr Lawrence Oudendyk, paid tribute to the pair, saying that they had both played a huge part in establishing the club both on and off the field. “Chad and Remo are both players who have made a significant contribution to developing our club and we thank them for what they have done here, as well as wishing them well for the future,” Oudendyk said. He continued: “Remo was the first Swiss import to the Hyundai A-League and Chad can take great satisfaction in the knowledge that he has been instrumental in promoting both Queensland Roar and the Hyundai A-League as a whole. He has been the face of the Football Federation Australia (FFA) marketing campaign, and like Remo, has been an outstanding ambassador for our club and our game. “We are entering a phase in our club’s development were we must look at altering the make-up of our squad to ensure a more competitive future and unfortunately releasing existing players is part of that process.”

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Roar cut China's Beckham The man known as "China's David Beckham" - international striker Yuning Zhang - is the latest big name casualty at A-League club Queensland Roar. Zhang's contract was terminated in another sign reputations count for little under new coach Frank Farina during his off-season cull after Queensland missed a maiden A-League finals berth on goal difference. Zhang may have been a superstar in his homeland but the 29-year-old hardly turned heads in his debut A-League season, failing to notch a goal in two starts and four games off the bench. His departure follows the likes of inaugural Roar captain Chad Gibson and Swiss import Remo Buess who were cut last week in the fallout over yet another failed top four campaign by Queensland. The bloodletting may not end there. Of the other six players off contract, only three are expected to remain - Matt McKay, Spase Dilevski and Massimo Murdocca. Zhang's departure marks a spectacular fall from grace for the 187cm, 83kg international who arrived with much fanfare last August after completing his move from top Chinese outfit Shanghai Shenhua. His contract was due to expire on February 28 but left early "by mutual consent", according to Roar chief executive Lawrence Oudendyk. He will return to China on February 5 in a bid to reignite his career in the Chinese league which starts in March. "Zhang is a player with undoubted ability and he showed glimpses of his quality when he played," Oudendyk said. "However, there are major differences between the Chinese leagues and the A-League and it is fair to say that for one reason or another he has struggled to make an impact." Zhang was recruited by then Roar coach Miron Bleiberg who surprisingly resigned in November after mounting speculation that he would be replaced by Farina. Besides injury problems, Zhang's A-League debut season was also disrupted by his wedding in China in September. Meanwhile, cut defender Buess said the new rules restricting A-League clubs to four foreign players would make it tough for him to remain in the competition. Buess was expected to begin talks with New Zealand Knights but the Swiss international was not confident of playing again in the A-League. "It will be hard for me to sign in Australia with the new rules for four foreign players per squad especially because I'm a defender," he said. "Clubs will probably be keener to sign strikers and midfielders to fill the foreign spots rather than defenders and there are already a lot of good Australian defenders."

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Promising Sydney teenager Oliver Bozanic has signed with English Premier League side Reading. The 18-year-old, who played with Central Coast Mariners in the A-League pre-season, signed a contract with English club until 2009. The left-sided midfielder captained the Australian under-17 side last year and was recently named in the 2008 Olympic training squad. He trialled with Reading more than two years ago and was delighted to have finally secured a contract. "I'm very excited, I can't wait to get started," Bozanic told the club's website. "It's been a long time coming and I can't wait to get out there and get playing. I've been back and forth a few times, I've finally got it sorted and I'm looking forward to getting started." The club's Director of Football Nick Hammond said: "We are very pleased to have signed Oliver." "He is a really gifted left-foot player, an Australian youth international and he's already spent a large amount of time with us in the last couple of years." "We've been trying hard to identify really talented players, both on our door step and abroad, because there are good opportunities and value for money." Bozanic was signed by Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna in July on a short-term contract to boost injury-burdened side in the pre-season but his stint did not extend into the regular season. He is the son of former Socceroo defender Vic Bozanic, who made four appearances and netted two goals for Australia at the 1980 OFC Nations Cup in New Caledonia. Bozanic Jr was a cornerstone member of the Blacktown City Demons' charge towards the 2004/05 NSW Premier League finals series. Newly-promoted Reading has exceeded expectations this season and has practically secured its survival in the Premier League, currently sitting seventh.

[AJ]

Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours

Perth Glory end contracts for five players Perth Glory coach Ron Smith announced on Thursday that Stuart Young, Mimi Saric, Luka Glavas, Mark Robertson and Adrian Webster would not have their contracts extended for next season.

It's considered almost 100% certain that All White Webster will return to NZ to play for the Knights. He is expected to be the first of 5 or 6 Kiwi internationals about to sign for the Knights. With National manger Ricki Herbett also in charge of the club team, The Knights starting 11, will contain 8 or 9 first choice NZ internationals. it is hoped this will lift both the Knights performances and improve the All Whites chances of making the WC in South Africa in 2010. Whilst at the same time encouraging greater support for a team with more local players in it.

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours

It's considered almost 100% certain that All White Webster will return to NZ to play for the Knights. He is expected to be the first of 5 or 6 Kiwi internationals about to sign for the Knights. With National manger Ricki Herbett also in charge of the club team, The Knights starting 11, will contain 8 or 9 first choice NZ internationals. it is hoped this will lift both the Knights performances and improve the All Whites chances of making the WC in South Africa in 2010. Whilst at the same time encouraging greater support for a team with more local players in it.

Sounds like a plan :ok

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Socceroos lure Argentina to 'G ARGENTINA, the world's third-ranked soccer nation, is expected to send close to a full-strength team to play the Socceroos in Melbourne in June. And with the Australians also likely to field their best team as they prepare for their first foray into the Asian Cup, officials are hoping to pull 90,000 fans to the MCG. The match, on Wednesday, June 6, was confirmed yesterday by the Premier, Steve Bracks, and the chief executive of the Football Federation of Australia, Ben Buckley. It will be Melbourne's first chance to salute the Socceroos since their barnstorming progress through to the second round of last year's World Cup, which has provided the game with a huge boost in popularity and credibility. The Socceroos will also play Argentina's neighbour, Uruguay, in Sydney on June 2, reprising the World Cup qualifier that they won so emotionally in Sydney in November 2005. According to Buckley, coaches and officials around the world have told Australia how impressed they were with that performance and it is one of the reasons why the South American superstars have agreed to a rare visit. "Our profile has gone up enormously and the team demands respect," Buckley said. Argentina, winner of the 1978 and 1986 World Cups and quarter-finalists last year, will play a high-profile match in England immediately before coming to Melbourne and have committed to bring the same players, Buckley said. "We are expecting a full-strength team or certainly close to it," he said. That could mean a rare treat for locals with European-based stars like Hernan Crespo, Lionel Messi and Juan Roman Riquelme among Argentina's numbers. Having switched from the low-key Oceania confederation to the much stronger Asian competition, Australia will be out to make a big impact when their Asian Cup campaign begins against Oman in Thailand on July 8. The road to that assignment begins when the Socceroos take on Denmark in London next week. Although it will be difficult for players coming off European seasons, Buckley said the FFA would make sure they were "in tip-top shape" for commitments in Australia and Asia. Melbourne Major Events is hoping to replicate the success of the friendly against Greece at the MCG in May last year, when 95,000 farewelled the World Cup bound Socceroos. That match was the first in a package of four promised by the State Government and the FFA a year ago. Argentina will be the second and preliminary World Cup qualifiers next year and in 2009 will complete the deal, with Sydney promised the same arrangement. It is uncertain whether those Melbourne matches will be at the MCG or Telstra Dome. Stadiums are a delicate topic with Melbourne Victory declining to commit to the proposed new rectangular venue at Olympic Park because it thinks it will be too small. The Government is determined to press on with the project, which is supported by the Demons and the Storm. Buckley and Bracks both claimed yesterday that the dispute would be resolved. "We are confident of getting an outcome that makes sense for everyone," Buckley said. "The beauty of Melbourne is that you do have stadiums of different sizes and you have to be careful you don't re-create the same thing."

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Central Coast snare Sasho Petrovski The Central Coast Mariners have commenced their 2007/08 recruitment campaign with the signing of Socceroo striker and leading Hyundai A-League marksman Sasho Petrovski. Petrovski, 31, is the equal third most prolific goal scorer in Hyundai A-League history, having netted 14 times for inaugural Hyundai A-League Champions Sydney FC over two seasons. Including all competitive matches since the beginning of Australia’s new football era, Petrovski is second only to the Melbourne Victory’s Archie Thompson in terms of goals scored – with Petrovski scoring 21 goals to Thompson’s 22. Petrovski is also one of only five players to have scored a hat trick in the history of the Hyundai A-League, ironically against the Mariners at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium in November 2005. Petrovski’s goal scoring exploits also include earning the National Soccer League (NSL) top goal scorer award in 2000/01 after a massive 21 goal haul for eventual Champions the Wollongong Wolves, a record that contributed to Petrovski finishing the NSL with an impressive 0.51 goals per game ratio.

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Roar sign Tiatto Former Qantas Socceroo Danny Tiatto has signed to play with Queensland Roar for the next two seasons in a big coup for the club. The midfielder, who has captained English Championship side Leicester City for the past three years, represented Australia on 29 occasions before retiring from international football in 2005. A Melbourne boy originally, Tiatto had initially spoken with Melbourne Victory about a possible return to his home city but coach Ernie Merrick declined to sign the explosive left-footer.

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Fred Snubs Melbourne Victory and heads to US Melbourne Victory's brilliant Brazilian midfielder Fred has made a dash for cash to the US. A key player in the Victory's A-League premiership-championship double, Fred has shunned a three-year offer from Melbourne in favour of a deal with Washington-based DC United worth about $500,000 a season. Fred's imminent departure is a blow for Victory, which is prepared to play hard ball and ask DC United for a transfer fee if the Major League Soccer team insists on Fred's release before his contract expires on June 30. "At the moment we've got a player who's contracted and someone who wants to sign him," Victory football operations manager Gary Cole said from Tokyo last night. "At this stage we've heard nothing official, but we believe Football Federation Australia has received an international transfer request. "We would be entitled to ask for a transfer fee. We've gone to some expense to bring him and his family out from Brazil." It is not known how much Victory could demand for Fred's transfer fee. A lot will depend on how desperate DC United is to get the speedy midfielder to the US to prepare for the MLS season, which kicks off on April 8. Only last month, during the A-League finals, Fred had expressed a desire to become an Australian citizen and one day play for the Socceroos. Having tried to re-sign Fred since November, when it was obvious he would be a standout player in the A-League, Victory officials last spoke to Fred's agent two days ago and were disappointed, but not shocked, he was moving overseas. "It's been going on a long time," Cole said. "The last contact we had was two days ago and they indicated they would not be accepting our offer. He wanted two or three times what he's being paid. "And with the salary cap, we just can't do that and the league can't afford that right now. " "He hasn't gone because he's still contracted, but we probably have to accept the fact that he's not going to accept our offer." Victory has been reshaping its roster for next season by signing key defender Ljubo Milicevic after several years playing in Switzerland.

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Whose Going Where Adelaide United Re-signed: Jason Spagnuolo, Bobby Petta, Dez Giraldi Gains: Paul Agostino (1860 Munich, Germany) Losses: Greg Owens (released by mutual consent) Central Coast Mariners Re-signed: Mile Jedinak (on a full contract), Adam Kwasnik, Matt Osman, Brad Porter, Matthew Trott Gains: Sasho Petrovski (Sydney FC); Greg Owens (Adelaide United) Losses: Noel Spencer (released), Vuko Tomasevic (released), Wayne O’Sullivan (released) Melbourne Victory Re-signed: Grant Brebner Gains: Ljubo Milicevic (Young Boys Berne, Switzerland), Mitchell Langerak (AIS) Losses: Michael Ferrante (released), Mark Byrnes (released), Geoffrey Claeys (released during 06-07 season), Claudinho (released during 06-07 season), Newcastle Jets Re-signed: Matt Thompson Gains: Losses: Milton Rodriguez (released; returning to Colombia); Labinot Haliti (released), Tony Faria (released), Ivan Necevski (released during 06-07 season), Tolgay Ozbey (released during 06-07 season) New Zealand Knights All players from the New Zealand Knights are free agents. Perth Glory Re-signed: Naum Sekulovski Gains: Billy Celeski (Bulleen, VIC), Anthony Danze (WA), James Downey (Australian Institute of Sport), Dino Djulbic (South Melbourne) Losses: Stuart Young (retired), Adrian Webster (released), Luka Glavas (released), Mislav Saric (released), Mark Robertson (released) Queensland Roar Re-signed: Gains: Danny Tiatto (Leicester City, England), Robbie Kruse (uncontracted), Chris Grossman (full contract), Tahj Minniecon (Australian Institute of Sport) Losses: Chad Gibson (released), Remo Buess (released), Yuning Zhang (released) Sydney FC Re-signed: Iain Fyfe, Terry McFlynn, Robbie Middleby Gains: Adam Casey (New Zealand Knights), Dean Bouzanis, Nikolas Tsattalios (NSWIS); (ACL only) Noel Spencer (Central Coast Mariners), Luka Glavas (Perth Glory), Losses: Sasho Petrovski (Central Coast Mariners), Alvin Ceccoli (Avispa Fukuoka, Japan)

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Adelaide United's Aloisi calls it a day Former Adelaide United captain Ross Aloisi has decided to hang up the boots. Aloisi has been hampered by injuries over the past two months since the Reds lost the Hyundai A-League Grand Final to Melbourne Victory, with the 33-year-old adding that the recent signings of young stars such as Kristian Sarkies and Bruce Djite had also been a major factor in his decision. A statement from Adelaide chief executive Michael Petrillo on Saturday said both club and player had come to a mutual agreement to terminate Aloisi's contract. "Football has given so much to me and I'm just very thankful for the special opportunities I've received along the way, including playing in Europe, but none more special than to finish my (Hyundai A-League) playing career with Adelaide United and as its captain over the last two years," Aloisi said. The older brother of Socceroo John Aloisi, he was captain when Adelaide United topped the table in the inaugural A-League season, and led the team to the Pre-Season Cup in 2006 as well as to the 2006/07 Grand Final. Rumour has it that Aloisi retired before he was asked to leave :dude

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Melbourne Victory signs Matthew Kemp from Adelaide United Melbourne Victory has signed former Adelaide wing-back Matthew Kemp. The 26-year-old, who was a regular starter under former Reds coach John Kosmina, comes to the Hyundai A-League Champions on a two-year agreement. "Matthew is very quick; a good defender with excellent attacking attributes as well," Melbourne Football Operations Manager Gary Cole said "Not only were we looking for solid defensive players, but we wanted players who could create problems for the opposition going forward, and we firmly believe Matthew Kemp and Joseph Keenan can provide this for us on both sides of the park." Kemp, who marries this week, said he was looking forward to the challenge at the Victory.

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Re: Australian A League end of season news and rumours Hyphen heads to Perth Outstanding young Australian defender Nikolai Topor-Stanley will proudly wear the purple and orange of Perth Glory after committing to the club for their next two Hyundai A-League campaigns. The classy defender inked the deal in a week where he also scored for the Australian Under 23’s (Olyroos) in their Olympic qualifying match against Saudi Arabia. “The club has made some really positive steps in the past couple of months with new owners coming on board and the coaching staff putting together a new look squad which I’m confident will be able to have an impact in the finals next season,” Topor-Stanley said. “There is a real buzz throughout the league about Perth Glory and I can’t wait to be part of it,” he added. The 22 year old played 14 games for Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League last season and is currently involved in their Asian Champions League campaign. He will join the Glory for pre-season training once his obligations with Sydney are complete.