THE NEWCASTLE HERALD
By ROBERT DILLON
FOOTBALL Federation Australia officials are unlikely to object if the Newcastle Jets apply to make Joel Griffiths their marquee player next season although strictly he does not meet certain criteria.
The FFA prefers marquee players to either be current internationals or, in the case of veterans like Dwight Yorke, Juninho or Mario Jardel, to have formerly played for their country and in high-profile leagues overseas.
But FFA chief executive Ben Buckley said yesterday that such stipulations were not set in stone and that each marquee-player request would be considered on merit.
"It's related to national-team appearances, his level of experience and some more subjective ones, like his ability to help in marketing the club and building the profile of the club," Buckley said yesterday.
"I don't think anyone would doubt that Joel has those qualities."
Buckley said that Griffiths, who played the last of his two games for the Socceroos in August 2006, technically did not qualify as a marquee player on the score of his international credentials.
"But again, there are other subjective criteria, and if they make an application, we'll review it," he said.
The Jets are considering making Griffiths their marquee man and signing him to a five-year deal.
Griffiths hopes to embark in the next week on a three-month loan deal with Japanese club Avispa Fukuoka.
Article source http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/soccer/buckley-content-joel-possesses-marquee-quality/1191906.html
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