Stick with us: Jets move quickly to retain off-contract stars

THE NEWCASTLE HERALD

NEWCASTLE Jets officials have wasted no time in trying to shore up the players who carved their names in history on Sunday by winning the A-League grand final.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond said after the 1-0 triumph over Central Coast Mariners in Sydney that his club were capable of building a dynasty, providing off-contract matchwinners like Mark Bridge, Stuart Musialik and Andrew Durante were retained.

Newcastle's director of football Remo Nogarotto did not even wait for the dust to settle after the title decider, revealing yesterday morning he had already held talks with agents representing several Newcastle players.

Nogarotto was confident that Newcastle-born Musialik would stay and was also hopeful the Jets would manage to re-sign "at least one of Bridge and Durante", who have been linked to Sydney FC and Wellington Phoenix respectively.

"There's no time to waste here," Nogarotto said yesterday.

"We've got to do the right thing by the team and the community, and particularly by an outstanding coach called Gary van Egmond."

Bridge has signed a letter of intent with Sydney, but the grand final hero has stated several times in the past week that he wants to stay in Newcastle.

If the Olyroos striker requested a release from his commitment to Sydney, his chances of staying in Newcastle would hinge on whether or not Sydney were willing to play hardball.

Bridge's manager Leo Karis said he hoped to have a decision before the 22-year-old flies out tomorrow for Mexico with the Olyroos.

"We're still in discussions," Karis said yesterday.

"My plan is for it to be resolved before his departure.

"I don't want to get into the exact details of what has been signed or hasn't been signed, but I hope to be meeting with Mark either tonight or tomorrow, and hopefully he can make a quick decision."

As well as Bridge, Musialik and Durante, other Jets who are free agents include Adam D'Apuzzo, Denni, Stephen Laybutt, Steve Eagleton, Paul Kohler and Ben Kennedy.

Tarek Elrich has agreed in principle to an offer from Newcastle but is yet to sign. Scott Tunbridge is under contract for one more season, but the Jets have made it obvious they would like him to move on.

Noel Spencer is also signed for another season but has attracted interest from the proposed Gold Coast franchise.

Nogarotto was confident Newcastle's bargaining position had been enhanced by both their title triumph and qualifying for the Asian Champions League.

"The opportunity to play in a group of guys who potentially could be vying for the championship for the next couple of years is a rare thing, especially in a town like Newcastle, where the fan base is just completely and absolutely behind you," he said.

"And secondly, we have now qualified for the Asian Champions League, and that is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate their wares on a bigger stage."

But Nogarotto added that the Jets would not be able to keep all their players, especially as they hope to bring in Ahmad Elrich (Wellington), Ruben Zadkovic (Sydney) and possibly Ryan Griffiths from Rapid Bucharest.

"The brutal economics of the salary cap means you're going to lose some people," he said.

The Jets also intend to be proactive and ensure senior players Jade North, Joel and Adam Griffiths and Ante Covic, who are all contracted for another season, are re-signed long before they become free agents.

"The lesson that's been learnt this year is that for those players we definitely want to keep and the coach is completely and absolutely secure in his view about, we need to get in there earlier rather than later," Nogarotto said.

He said the unsuccessful Mario Jardel gamble would not deter the Jets from pursuing high-profile imports in the future, but Joel Griffiths is likely to be upgraded to marquee-player status.

"If the right person comes along, we will always consider bringing him in," Nogarotto said.

"I think what we will do in future is make sure our due diligence to these sort of players is a bit stricter than it was with Mario Jardel."

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