Glory opened talks with Owen's Australian agent after the loss of striker Billy Mehmet who has exited the club to move to Thailand.

But today Glory coach Ian Ferguson dropped the Owen option and said the club would be pursuing younger stars instead.

“Michael is a player who comes with a high pedigree but it’s not the direction I want to take the club,” Ferguson said. “I am looking for a younger player and a player who has been playing more regularly.

“I have three or four irons in the fire that I am pursuing, which is good.

“In terms of Michael, there was contact from an agent if we were interested, it was discussed at a good level, but I have made the decision he is the not the player needed at Perth Glory.”