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Neill in talks with Sydney Olympic

Roar Guru
24th February, 2014
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Embattled Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill is in discussions with state league side Sydney Olympic, the club confirmed, with the veteran defender becoming increasingly desperate to secure a deal before the World Cup.

The NSW Premier Leagues club on Monday confirmed they were in discussions with Neill about a contract.

“The club is looking to bolster it’s squad, and with Lucas there might be an opportunity to pick up a player who can raise the profile of the club and add value to the squad,” club spokesman George Mpliokas told AAP.

“It’s something that has been discussed at board level and I’ve confirmed with the club president Chris Tsioulos this afternoon that they have indeed begun negations with Lucas.

“We’d like to have him on board, we think he’d be a good fit.”

The 35-year-old has been without a club since leaving Japanese side Omiya Ardija in December.

He has spent a few weeks training with his former English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers, and recently played a game in their youth side, in the hope of securing a contract for the remainder of the season.

The club, however, was unable to offer him anything.

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Mpliokas said negotiations with Neill are still in their early stages but the club is hopeful the former Sydney FC defender could be making his comeback to Australian football in the NSW Premier Leagues competition which kicks off in mid March.

“We take ourselves pretty seriously,” he said

“We’re not a two-bit football club we’re a national champion.

“You’ve got to aim big and be ambitious if you want to make a mark.”

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou will on Wednesday name his 23-man squad for the March 5 friendly against Ecuador in London.

With Postecoglou saying he would include several new faces in a largely experimental squad for the crucial World Cup warm-up, Neill is unlikely to receive a call-up.

The coach retained Neill as skipper in his first match at the helm – November’s 1-0 win over Costa Rica in Sydney – but has since made it clear that only players who are playing regularly and playing well will get selected.

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Neill’s hopes of playing in a third consecutive World Cup are fast diminishing with Postecoglou to settle on his extended World Cup squad in May ahead the Brazil showpiece which kicks off in June.

Mpliokas feels, however, that Sydney Olympic would only help Neill’s chances insisting the Premier Leagues is played at a high standard.

“The boys train very hard and it’s a serious football competition and a lot of talent from this competition ends up in the A-League,” he said.

“He’s Australia’s captain and he’s an esteemed footballer and I think if he’s playing regularly that certainly gives him half a chance.”

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