EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle Jets boss Gary van Egmond is close to adding a trio of fresh faces to his squad and insists a busy exit door at the Hunter is no cause to mope.
The Hunter boss has already seen Mark Bridge, Andrew Durante and Stuart Musialik quit the club following last season’s championship triumph. Captain Jade North has now expressed a desire to pursue a fresh challenge abroad.
Fringe strikers Troy Hearfield and Scott Tunbridge have both been freed, the former likely to join Wellington Phoenix after some initial confusion regarding his release.
On the face of it, van Egmond faces having the heart ripped out of his side but the coach refuses to become downbeat.
Former Sydney FC defender/midfielder Ruben Zadkovich is thought to be one of the deals close to completion with the club also linked with Italian defender Adrian Madaschi.
Van Egmond told au.fourfourtwo.com: “There are things on the boil and I think we are close on three players we are chasing. I’d say by the time all our work is done we’ll be looking at a squad of 20 players for next season.”
The coach will sit down shortly with Jets owner Con Constantine to discuss a potential overseas trip to eye up and capture further targets.
This certainly isn’t a coach who has seen the fight drained from him by the loss of so many key players. He said: “Where one door closes, another one opens. Of course you want to keep quality players in your squad and not lose them but it’s no good moping around. That doesn’t achieve anything.”
As for the latest potential departure, van Egmond says he cannot argue with players looking to better themselves, both in a footballing and financial sense, but that doesn’t mean he would want to lose Jade North without a fight – and certainly not to a rival domestic club.
He said: “Losing individuals overseas is part and parcel of football but you don’t like to lose players to other A-League clubs. If he (North) got a lucrative offer I would be over the moon for him.”
After arriving back from international duty with the Socceroos in China last week, the Jets captain revealed to au.fourfourtwo.com: “A game like that (China) can open up doors you know. I think it’s time for me to go and I just feel I’m ready to go.
“My next step, my next challenge is to go overseas. I don’t think Con (Jets owner Con Constantine) will stand in my way.”
Fringe strikers Troy Hearfield and Scott Tunbridge have both been freed, the former likely to join Wellington Phoenix after some initial confusion regarding his release.
On the face of it, van Egmond faces having the heart ripped out of his side but the coach refuses to become downbeat.
Former Sydney FC defender/midfielder Ruben Zadkovich is thought to be one of the deals close to completion with the club also linked with Italian defender Adrian Madaschi.
Van Egmond told au.fourfourtwo.com: “There are things on the boil and I think we are close on three players we are chasing. I’d say by the time all our work is done we’ll be looking at a squad of 20 players for next season.”
The coach will sit down shortly with Jets owner Con Constantine to discuss a potential overseas trip to eye up and capture further targets.
This certainly isn’t a coach who has seen the fight drained from him by the loss of so many key players. He said: “Where one door closes, another one opens. Of course you want to keep quality players in your squad and not lose them but it’s no good moping around. That doesn’t achieve anything.”
As for the latest potential departure, van Egmond says he cannot argue with players looking to better themselves, both in a footballing and financial sense, but that doesn’t mean he would want to lose Jade North without a fight – and certainly not to a rival domestic club.
He said: “Losing individuals overseas is part and parcel of football but you don’t like to lose players to other A-League clubs. If he (North) got a lucrative offer I would be over the moon for him.”
After arriving back from international duty with the Socceroos in China last week, the Jets captain revealed to au.fourfourtwo.com: “A game like that (China) can open up doors you know. I think it’s time for me to go and I just feel I’m ready to go.
“My next step, my next challenge is to go overseas. I don’t think Con (Jets owner Con Constantine) will stand in my way.”
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