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Glory dealt blow as Danny Vukovic leaves

Goalkeeper Danny Vukovic insists Perth Glory’s salary cap woes weren’t the reason behind his decision to leave the A-League club.

Vukovic is poised to join either Melbourne Victory or Western Sydney Wanderers after being granted a release from the final two years of his Glory contract.

Perth were stripped of their spot in this season’s finals and fined $269,000 after being found guilty of systematically rorting the salary cap.

A host of Glory players were left fuming over the club’s dodgy activities, with striker Jamie Maclaren recently issuing the club with a breach notice in a bid to win an early release from his own deal.

Dutch winger Youssouf Hersi has already left the club, and there’s a chance others could follow suit.

But it appears family reasons were the sole driver in Vukovic’s decision to leave.

Vukovic’s wife Kristy is due to give birth in July, and the pair are keen to move over east in order to be closer to family.

“I have to stress that this decision is purely based for family reasons and no other, irrespective of what may have transpired off the field in recent months,” Vukovic said in a statement.

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“We don’t have any relatives in Perth.

“I approached the club four months ago about the possibility of moving closer to home to ensure we have the support network we both need from our family.

“No matter how we tried to look at it, the best interests of our child had to come first.

“What lies ahead as far as football is concerned is not clear at this stage.”

Vukovic will be hot property on the open market after establishing himself as one of the best shot stoppers in Australia.

Western Sydney and Victory are the early frontrunners to nab the 30-year-old, who is in the peak of his career.

The Wanderers are in need of a classy goalkeeper after axing veteran Ante Covic, while Victory are also on the lookout after parting ways with Nathan Coe.

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Vukovic’s exit, combined with Jack Duncan’s move to Danish club Randers FC, has left Glory without a front-line goalkeeper.

Former Jets goalkeeper Mark Birighitti is reportedly in the club’s sights, along with strikers Scott McDonald and Adam Taggart.

Last week, Wanderers defender Antony Golec signed on with Glory on a two-year deal.

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