Perth Glory owner Tony Sage has labelled Adam Taggart a “liar” after the star striker signed a two-year deal with A-League rivals Brisbane Roar.
Taggart spent the past two seasons at Glory, scoring 20 goals across 38 games.
Glory were hopeful of re-signing Taggart, and Sage was left fuming when he found out the former golden boot winner had instead inked a deal with Brisbane.
Sage said Glory nursed the injury-hit Taggart back to full fitness at “great expense”, only for the player to leave with “no thanks or even the decency to tell us”.
“No, he just let’s (sic) the other club announce it. Blindsided,” Sage wrote on Facebook.
“He said he would wait till our new coach was appointed. So a liar as well.
“He would have been our highest paid player but all we got was a 2 fingered salute. That’s not a GLORY player.”
Taggart declined to comment about Sage’s tirade when contacted on Tuesday.
Perth Glory also savaged Taggart in their official media release on Tuesday morning.
“The club is disappointed to have lost a player upon whom it took a huge gamble after injuries had stalled his career,” the statement read.
“Glory played a key role in Adam’s return to Australia, but despite a very strong offer from us to retain his services which would have made him our highest-paid player, he opted to leave in a manner which showed no gratitude for the way he had been treated by the club.
“It is also very disappointing that we were only made aware of his decision via an announcement from another club.”
Taggart will be aiming to revive his international career at Brisbane.
The 24-year-old played against the Netherlands and Spain at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil among his seven Socceroos caps.
His move overseas after that tournament was blighted by soft tissue injuries.
And although injuries plagued him at times during his two-season stay at Glory, it wasn’t as bad as the two years prior.
“I’m ready to hit the ground running in pre-season and I’m excited for what the future holds,” Taggart said in a statement about his move to Brisbane.
“I cannot wait to start working with John (Aloisi) and the rest of the team.
“It’ll be a special moment for me when I get to run out onto Suncorp Stadium for the first time in orange.”
Glory are on the lookout for a new coach after axing Kenny Lowe from the post after he failed to guide the team into the finals.
tim
Guest
A former golden boot (for a Jets team in the bottom 4) who has played in the world cup finals. That's more achievements than 99% of players will ever manage.
Nemesis
Guest
Agree. Taggart can undoubtedly be a talent, but he's done nothing yet. 24 years old, injury prone and now this. Let's see if he's willing to work hard & achieve his full potential. Hope he does, but nothing in his career so far suggests he will.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Perth “have dodged a bullet”? And yet they offered him marquee wages, the club owner launched an internet tirade when he found out, and the club issued a passive-aggressive statement attacking the loss. More like they realised they’d lost a gun than dodged a bullet ?
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
haha yeah sorry couldn't resist. Tony is both clueless and classless, if he ran the club better he might find more people coming through the turnstiles resulting in less of a hole in his pocket.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Statement via the PFA today re Adam Taggart: “It is important for me to publicly thank the fans of Perth Glory, the coaching staff and my teammates for the time I spent with the club. To play in front of my family and my friends after having been away from home for four years means more than people know. I have spoken privately to all club staff to thank them and have also spoken with Tony Sage to thank him for his contribution to Perth Glory. The fans have always been fantastic and I will always have the utmost respect for them. I can’t thank them enough for the past two years. There have been some great memories and moments I will never forget. In this regard, it was disappointing to read quotes attributed to me in the West Australian newspaper today that were not mine. Coming off contract is an anxious period for any player and I kept the club up to date with my decision-making over the past month or so. On Monday afternoon, club management was informed of my decision to join Brisbane Roar, which will give me a chance to work under John Aloisi. John is a fantastic coach who has a great record of developing young strikers. I feel as though I need a new challenge in a fresh environment and Brisbane can provide that” http://pfa.net.au/news/adam-taggart-statement/
Waz
Roar Rookie
lol. Alright, just Sage is classless. Glory deserve better.
The Phantom Commissioner
Roar Rookie
awww Waz called Glory classless, i'm genuinely hurt. Is he getting a new number i know you guys have had trouble with 22 in the past.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Well, by calling someone a liar he’s opened himself up to a defamation action. I doubt Taggart will walk through that door but the PFA are acting on it. And who would want to sign for Glory with such a toxic culture? The desperate, needy and over-paid maybe??
Waz
Roar Rookie
jb I don’t think there’s anything cynical about it, I agree Aloisi is turning back the clock. He never quite had it right last time though, Broich on the left wouldn’t play the counter attacking style while Borrello on the right would. This time he’s got the front three he needs. Can he get a 10 to match? And will one if the two DMs be able to provide enough forward ball to feed this machine? I’m happy enough for him to give it a go, it’s his style so get on with it.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Given Sage isn’t directly involved in player negotiations how would he know? His own staff didn’t bother to inform him that Taggart has told them he was leaving so what does Sage actually know? And in the unlikely event Taggart said he would wait (and I say unlikely because I can’t imagine any agent would allow a player to do that - Glory might take two months to hire a coach, so who would wait an undefined amount of time). But let’s say he did, if Roar/Jets then sweep in with a take it or leave it offer he is entitled to change his mind and that does not make him a liar. Sage is classless, as are Glory.
fadida
Guest
Agree Waz. He scores goals of all types. A much better header and long range scorer from distance.
fadida
Guest
He's a great player. Let's keep our fingers crossed he stays injury free
Midfielder
Guest
Nem Click on the Newcastle link and scroll down to the sports bar... one day maybe in Melbourne.. https://www.theherald.com.au/
Realist
Guest
Actually Waz, Sage is calling Taggart a liar in regards to waiting until a new coach was appointed, not about not telling the club. From Sage's twitter - “He said he would wait til our new coach was appointed ... so a liar as well."
j binnie
Guest
Lionheart - As some clubs get richer and some get poorer the movement of players within the A-League can only have one outcome,transfer fees will have to be introduced. Our founding fathers obviously don't think that point has been reached yet. Cheers jb.
Ian
Guest
Your last paragraph is where it is at Waz. Salty Sage. I'm sure he recently suggested clubs from South East Asia should be IN the A-League. And Taggart can make his own decisions. He preferred Brisbane to Perth.
Lionheart
Guest
One aspect of the A League that annoys me is the constant movement of players between clubs. I know it's normal for all leagues and indeed, professional sport everywhere, but it seems to be amplified in the A League with just ten clubs, shorter contracts and no transfer fees. You get attached to particular players, watch them grow, cheer and support them then next you know they're on the other team. That's the game I guess.
Lionheart
Guest
Thanks Waz. We're out of the blocks quick smart, good to see. Mikkelsen looks a prospect too, right wing and good company for TK and young Jack. Time to renew.
Lionheart
Guest
Brattan showed no loyalty true, but you may recall that was the time when Roar had not paid all their bills and players overdue pay had the option of walking out on their contracts mid-term, which Brattan did, lured by CFG. But he was the only one who took that option.
Lionheart
Guest
I don't think Mitch Nichols would be too welcome back at Roar. The fans give him heaps every time he plays here now.