DAILY TELEGRAPH
By David Davutovic
THE implosion of A-League champions Newcastle Jets has already begun with the departure of two key players and owner Con Constantine refusing point blank to utilise third-party sponsor deals to bankroll new contracts for the squad.
The Jets' grand final heroes, goalscorer Mark Bridge and man of the match Andrew Durante, will join Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix respectively with the Jets refusing to up their derisory offers.
Newcastle have not used a cent of the $450,000 available under the Additional Services Agreements.
A stubborn yet optimistic chairman Con Constantine yesterday maintained that the emotion of the Jets' triumph and "the Newcastle lifestyle" would keep them at the Jets.
"We would love them to stay, but we're not desperate," Constantine declared. "We're not going to have a Dutch auction.
"What we give our players is the lifestyle in Newcastle. It's another world in New Zealand. I have no doubt at all they'll have a change of heart.
"From what I saw in them yesterday and seeing Andrew Durante at 3am, these are young men who have been given the wrong information. I think they are having second thoughts."
Constantine has offered Olyroos striker Bridge a miserly $80,000-a-year deal to stay with the Jets, less than half of Sydney FC's offer. Durante was offered $90,000, which is more than $50,000 below Wellington's proposed contract.
Yet The Daily Telegraph understands that Durante has a third-party sponsor ready to tip in, which would keep him at the club.
Constantine refuses to budge, however, insisting that the Jets will remain the only club not to utilise the third-party agreements.
"I don't want to go to the ASA because I don't think they're transparent enough," Constantine said.
"If FFA thinks we should increase the salary cap, I've got no problems paying players extra."
It is understood other key players are unhappy with the club's negotiations, and will consider walking if the situation does not change.
While Durante and Bridge's exits are a fait accompli, the Jets would need to re-sign uncontracted trio Stuart Musialik, Adam d'Apuzzo and Tarek Elrich to retain other unsettled stars.
But Constantine denied the claims, saying everyone wanted to stay.
"Joel (Griffiths) wants to sign for five years, Adam (Griffiths) has no intention of going, we're trying to get their brother Ryan and (Ante) Covic isn't going anywhere, so I don't know where the rumours are coming from.
"We will keep this squad together for many years to come."
Article Source: http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23275872-5001023,00.html
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