EVERTON'S Socceroo midfielder Tim Cahill has denied he will leave the club at the end of his current contract to finish his career in his homeland.
Cahill, who turns 29 next month, has a contract with the Toffees until 2012 after signing a new deal last year.
The free-scoring midfielder has proved himself a loyal servant at Goodison Park since arriving from Millwall in 2004.
But The World Game website this week claimed his ties with aspiring A-League club South Coast FC were set to take him back to Australia.
They quoted him as saying he would quit Everton at the end of his current contract to join the club and play in the A-League.
Today though he issued a statement through his club to deny the story.
"Everyone knows that I am fiercely proud of my roots and that perhaps one day I may play club football back home but to say that I will be doing it at the end of my current deal is simply not true," he told the club's official website.
"I am 28 years old and, with all due respect, when my contract expires I would hope that I will still have a few more years left at this level of the game."
Cahill takes a huge interest in football in Australia and has plans in place to establish a soccer academy.
But he says he has disappointing news for any of his fans who may be anticipating a hero's return in three years time.
He added: "The English Premier League is the best in the world and it has the best players so I have absolutely no plans to move on."
The Socceroo also plans to set up an academy with the Wollongong franchise bearing his own name.
But the SBS website had also quoted the star saying: "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to round off my football life playing for a team that I'm convinced will get a licence to join the competition sooner rather than later.
"The fact I can be part of the club's player development in terms of giving kids in the region a chance to excel would only make it sweeter. I'm in this project for the long haul.
"I want to be part of the club in a meaningful way on the field too. I want to come home when I still have something left to give as a player. That's also very important to me.
"Obviously I couldn't be happier where I am right now at Everton, but it would great to be a part of helping build the game up back home too because football has given me a great life."
The free-scoring midfielder has proved himself a loyal servant at Goodison Park since arriving from Millwall in 2004.
But The World Game website this week claimed his ties with aspiring A-League club South Coast FC were set to take him back to Australia.
They quoted him as saying he would quit Everton at the end of his current contract to join the club and play in the A-League.
Today though he issued a statement through his club to deny the story.
"Everyone knows that I am fiercely proud of my roots and that perhaps one day I may play club football back home but to say that I will be doing it at the end of my current deal is simply not true," he told the club's official website.
"I am 28 years old and, with all due respect, when my contract expires I would hope that I will still have a few more years left at this level of the game."
Cahill takes a huge interest in football in Australia and has plans in place to establish a soccer academy.
But he says he has disappointing news for any of his fans who may be anticipating a hero's return in three years time.
He added: "The English Premier League is the best in the world and it has the best players so I have absolutely no plans to move on."
The Socceroo also plans to set up an academy with the Wollongong franchise bearing his own name.
But the SBS website had also quoted the star saying: "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to round off my football life playing for a team that I'm convinced will get a licence to join the competition sooner rather than later.
"The fact I can be part of the club's player development in terms of giving kids in the region a chance to excel would only make it sweeter. I'm in this project for the long haul.
"I want to be part of the club in a meaningful way on the field too. I want to come home when I still have something left to give as a player. That's also very important to me.
"Obviously I couldn't be happier where I am right now at Everton, but it would great to be a part of helping build the game up back home too because football has given me a great life."
Related Articles
Clubs circle Volpato as international future hangs in balance
Circati camp confirms EPL, Serie A interest in Socceroos defender
