The player is officially still a Phoenix player until March 31 but it's understood that the Wellington-based club has signed off on paperwork to sell their star striker to Nicky Carle's fomer club, Genclerbirligi OFTAS, now called Hacettepe Spor Kulübü.

This despite Smeltz announcing late in the season that he was leaving Phoenix for Gold Coast United.

It's also understood that the money on offer is significantly more than the deal Smeltz has struck with Gold Coast United and that the player would be happy to move to the Turkish Super League.

However, Gold Coast must gve a green-light for the move to the FFA. And the Clive Palmer backed club will fight all the way to keep their New Zealand international from moving before he's even kicked a ball.