He was due to leave yesterday to begin talks with Sheffield United about a possible move but Sydney want to thrash out a deal on his possible transfer fee.

With the transfer deadline looming - and no marquee signing in site - Sydney are desperate not to lose Carney or AWOL teammate Mark Milligan if at all possible.

The club have leaked six goals in their last two games without the pair, and Sydney haven't scored a competitive goal since April.

Now Carney no longer knows what his future holds.

"There are a number of English clubs who want to meet with me," Carney told Sydney's Daily Telegraph last night. "Like any other player I am really keen to explore those options.

"It has been a bit frustrating the last couple of days. One minute I am going to England for talks, the next minute I am not.

"I'd really like the club to put themselves in my shoes. I don't believe they are doing that."

He added: "I want the opportunity to go and at least see what they have got to offer. All I am asking is a fair deal.

"The club has been great to me, so have the players, Branko (Culina) and the fans."

Before the delay, Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe had sounded confident about signing Carney to the Blades under manager Bryan Robson.

He told the Sheffield Star: "I expect Carney is on a plane winging to England. I would say he us one of the players we are interested in.

"While we've not signed him yet, he'd love Sheffield United.

"We are a great club, we are the world's oldest United and people forget that. Not Man United, but Sheffield United."