Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat says he’ll decide the future of crowd favourite and all-time A-League record goalscorer Archie Thompson next week.
Thompson is out of contract at Victory after a decade at the club and 89 goals.
The 36-year-old made headlines during the build-up to the grand final by declaring he was keen to play on next season, whether at Victory or otherwise.
In the wake of Victory’s 3-0 grand final defeat of Sydney FC, Muscat said negotiations would befit a club legend, and occur in the days to come.
“Archie will be treated with the utmost respect,” he said.
“The conversations will be had this week … give us five minutes to enjoy tonight and then we’ll get through that.”
Thompson scored 11 goals, including a hat-trick against Sydney FC earlier in the season, during Victory’s championship-winning campaign.
He is not the only player out of contract at the champions.
Goalkeepers Nathan Coe, Lawrence Thomas, defender Daniel Georgievski and attacker Andrew Nabbout all face uncertain futures without deals in place for the next A-League campaign.
Catnap
Guest
I agree can't think of a better bench player in the HAL!!!!
Liam Sheedy
Roar Guru
If Victory do not want him he still has plenty to offer another A-League club.
Bondy
Guest
Your worst nightmare may come true or he could go the the Jets .
LordBrucie
Guest
bondy - maybe your team- the mariners - can give thomo a contract if the victory don't. I know the Mariners are overflowing with talent but What do you think bondy? Ill have a word with chatsworth next time I chat to him old bean!
Bondy
Guest
Bruce We know what you're going to write so why bother "he's to old' 'overrated' "never scaled the heights he should have " did I miss anything Bruce .... Narc
Ian
Guest
You wrote your post to claim maximum effect from a player being subbed on after the third goal. It's all in the context. Which is what all your posts are always about.
LordBrucie
Guest
ian - you don't 'correct' me as I wrote that he was put on after the third goal. Yes, he was ready and waiting to go on before the third goal but he came on after the third goal was scored and the game was definitely won. Players are sometimes ready and waiting for five mins before they actually get on. Surprised you are unaware of that given your claims to follow asso. Football.
cm
Guest
Unless Tanaka goes I'd be surprised to see Georgievski at WSW.
Ian
Guest
I'm a Brisbane fan, but a correction as I know you hang crap on the A-League at every opportunity. Archie was lining up to be subbed on before the 3rd goal was scored. He has scored quite a reasonable amount of goals too - being subbed on isn't that much of an insult as you think. Many players perform that role.
Mato-Bateman
Guest
If Archie doesn't re-sign, he more than likely will retire at Wellington under Merrick. Georgievski, if not re-signed, wouldn't be surprised if he signs with Wanderers considering his family lives out West and supports Wanderers. Thomas should be re-signed and from all reports Coe is off to Turkey.
Patrick L
Roar Rookie
Great Clubman and one of the genuine characters of the ALeague. Victory will resign him in one capacity or another because they tend to make good decisions
rusty0256
Guest
Archie is Australia's own Ryan Giggs. No he isn't as quick as he used to be but he is still quick enough. He has also I think refined his touch - not all his deft flicks and feints come off but a great many of them do and he clearly loves playing defence defying interchanges with Finkler. It is also nigh on impossible for opponents to keep him quiet for an entire game, he nearly always manages to pop up at just the right time to give defenders grief. He also still has the aerobic ability to get up and down the pitch, happy to come deep to help out the midfield win the ball and work it forward again. The only weaknesses that I can see is he is only good for about seventy minutes and is a yard slower than his peak. He is quite simply remarkable for his age. Now lets look at the facts. In the last eight seasons, Archie has scored 6, 9, 11, 4 (didn't play much due to ACL injury), 7, 9, 9 and this season, a remarkable 11 goals. So even playing this past season (often) off the bench, his goals per season output has actually risen from the past 5 seasons and is only one behind his prime 09/10 (of course 06/07 was a 15 goal blowout with 5 in the Grand Final but even then in the season proper he only scored 10). Based on this alone, providing his wage demands are not unreasonable and as long as he maintains his fitness and scoring ability there is no reason for Victory not to keep giving him one year extensions. Sitting now on eighty-nine A-League goals, is the magic one hundred possible? Maybe, maybe not but I think he deserves the opportunity to give it a red hot go.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
You gotta love Archie. He is a cheeky bugger but he still knows where the back of the net is. Scored something like 11-12 goals with limited minutes. Surely deserves another go around. Do the right MVFC, dont embarrass yourselves.
albatross
Roar Pro
By bringing him on at 90+1', Muscat implicitly both paid him all the respect he is going to get and indicated that his time at Victory is up.
Franko
Guest
This is the challenge of every title winning side, how to balance the books the following year.... Apparently Archie's is not about cash though. Muscat won't sign him unless he gets his vaccinations.
LordBrucie
Guest
Surely you jest rosseforp! This guy is totally overrated - hence he was unable to make any impact in Europe and rushed back here. He has always been a 'flat track bully' performing again the minnows but not real quality. He is also too old. He will not be granted a new contract as was clear by Muscat only putting him on yesterday when the third goal was scored and there was only injury time remaining.
Professor Rosseforp
Guest
Just check out his goals and assists, and the pressure he places on opposition defences, then hand him a pen to sign now. He still has the goal hunger that the best strikers have.