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.
“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.
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.
Bondy
Guest
Danny was the most consistent glove man in the HAL last year ...
Waz
Guest
What was Kevin Muscats coaching record before taking charge at Victory? As you say there's no guarantee of success or failure, every successful manager starts somewhere and every one of them fails at some point. I personally don't think success is totally dependent on Aloisi, it's more dependent upon the Bakries and whether cost cutting continues in to the playing squad
Batou
Guest
Not sure about that Bob. Both Ange and MM had much stronger coaching records than Aloisi, especially Ange with two NSL titles with South Melbourne. MM had less experience than Postecoglou but had a promising stint at Gold Coast and I believe either youth or womens coaching experience before that. Aloisi has nothing other than a truly dismal spell as manager at Heart and possibly some brief youth team coaching experience before that? That doesn't mean he will fail of course, only that comparisons with Ange when he came in (and to a lesser extent Mulvey) aren't very accurate.
Bob
Guest
Steve - not sure what the rationale would be, can't see him being much cheaper than the $200k Tribulietx was rumoured to be offered though. Ange and Mulvey were all predicted to fail at Roar due to their perceived poor prior coaching records and plenty of people, like you now, voiced strong negative opinions back then. Only time will tell.
Waz
Guest
Why?
Steve
Guest
Wow just wow. Im guessing its a monetary decision. Appointing someone with a successful coaching career is more expensive than someone without one. I will call it now, the Roar wont make the finals next season.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Tomorrow, Brisbane Roar will announce they've appointed John Aloisi as their new Senior Coach. Doubt anyone saw that coming!
AZ_RBB
Guest
Punter, please keep your ridiculous and fanciful rumours to yourself. This is a serious website.
The artist formerly known as Punter
Guest
Will Ancelotti bring Bale with him?
AZ_RBB
Guest
FFA has sacked Stubbins at Newcastle. Ancelotti to take over.
Liam Sheedy
Roar Guru
A very solid keeper who will do well at another club. I am a bit worried about what may happen to Perth next season.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Yeah it is he looks on the verge of becoming a good player. Still has much to prove as a starter he did go missing when he did get that opportunity. Absolutely brilliant strike rate off the bench though and always brought energy in that role, will be interesting to see what kind of player he turns out to be, will he become a top A-league striker or more of a Haliti type who never quite puts it together on a consistant basis.
langou
Roar Guru
McLaren to me is the disappointing one. He should have played more last year and now he looks lost to another club. What a debacle.
Brick Tamland of the pants party
Guest
Fantastic keeper shame to see him go but family support is extremely important after the birth of a child, good luck to him. Better get used to seeing players leave in the off season i suppose. De Silva, Vukovic, Hersi gone and Mclaren doesn't look like he'll be far behind. Sage should be looking at spending that (reported) $2 mill from De Silva on a marquee creative midfielder if Glory's books are in any position to have a marquee that is. If we can get some quality in that regard, keep the defence together, perhaps a player like Ruka to cover the loss of Hersi and Mclaren and we should be looking at a good side.
Josh
Guest
'In order to be closer to family' to me means WSW. I hope so but for some reason still think he'll end up at Victory.