The 31-year-old Sydneysider is on the books of English third tier club Oldham Athletic but has been sidelined all season with a knee problem.

Pogliacomi's right knee has degenerated and requires major open surgery that will likely see him sidelined for up to a year.

He has agreed a termination package with the League One club and the man who played for his country at the 1995 Under 20 World Cup alongside the likes of Mark Viduka, Josip Skoko, Ufuk Talay and Robbie Middleby now plans to return to Australia.

Pogliacomi told the club's official website: "English football is so passionate and full of history and I've had a chance to experience that."

An exploratory operation this week revealed the former Wollongong Wolves custodian will need extensive correctional surgery to micro fractures, as well as repairs to a damaged cartilage.

Rehabilitation from such surgery could take up to a year, effectively wiping out the remainder of this season and also the 2008/9 campaign.

Pogliacomi was in his second spell at Boundary Park after first joining the Latics in 2002 from Parramatta Power.

That move came after a memorable farewell in a penalty shoot-out triumph over Perth Glory in 2000.

After three seasons (including a memorable first year in which he helped the club into the play-offs) he left for Blackpool, only to return to Oldham in the summer of 2006 re-signed by current Athletic boss John Sheridan.