Wilkinson leaving Mariners for South Korea
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Central Coast captain Alex Wilkinson is leaving the Mariners to join South Korea’s K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC.
The 27-year-old defender has agreed to terms on a two-and-a-half year contract with Jeonbuk, the Mariners said in a statement on Wednesday following the completion of a transfer deal.
Wilkinson said he had mixed feelings about swapping the yellow and navy of the Mariners for the green of Jeonbuk.
“It has been seven years with the Mariners and I’ve loved every minute up here,” Wilkinson said in the statement.
“I love the team, I love the club, and that’s what has made the decision so hard.
“But there was always a part of me that wanted to play overseas and this offer was in the too good to refuse category.
“I’m leaving a great club behind (but) Jeonbuk are a very good team that has a very good set-up, so that made the decision a bit easier,” he said.
Mariners head coach Graham Arnold said the opportunity for Wilkinson to set himself up financially is one the player couldn’t refuse.
“Alex has been a great servant for this club for a very long time and we are disappointed to see him go, but at the moment Australian clubs simply cannot compete with the money on offer in other Asian leagues,” Arnold said.
Wilkinson made 172 A-League appearances for Central Coast over seven seasons, playing in three grand finals including the club’s two premiership wins.
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (7) | Page 1 of Comments
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July 19th 2012 @ 2:40pm
pete4 said | July 19th 2012 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
All the best to him. Did anyone hear how much $ transfer fee was?
July 19th 2012 @ 3:06pm
Sports Candy said | July 19th 2012 @ 3:06pm | Report comment
They didn’t announce the amount, but a two and a half year deal for a defender would be around 500-600K I’d guess.
I’ve always liked Wilko as a player and as a person and I rate him as one of the best A-League defenders not to get selected for the Socceroos.
However he’s only 27 and the average age of our defenders is about 35 so he’s still got a few years yet to play for the Socceroos.
July 19th 2012 @ 3:07pm
Midfielder said | July 19th 2012 @ 3:07pm | Report comment
Roughly half a million…
July 19th 2012 @ 6:52pm
MV Dave said | July 19th 2012 @ 6:52pm | Report comment
Say it ain’t so Mid!!
Good luck to Alex, a terrific and loyal servant and more importantly, from all reports, a top bloke.
July 19th 2012 @ 7:42pm
Midfielder said | July 19th 2012 @ 7:42pm | Report comment
Sorry MVD …. the term gentleman springs to mind we you talk of him… very cool under pressure always wondered why he never got a call into the Socceroos … a clean player and IMHO a very very very under rated outside the CC… he will be missed both on the park, in the shed & off the park … a lovely bloke he has already said he plans to come back …
July 19th 2012 @ 3:00pm
Roger said | July 19th 2012 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
Hopefully he gets first team game time.
July 19th 2012 @ 3:59pm
Bondy said | July 19th 2012 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
John’s served the Mariners with he’s heart on he’s sleeve,I wish him the best of luck with he’s football.