THE NEWCASTLE HERALD
By Robert Dillon
FOR the Newcastle Jets and their fans, reality has kicked in as abruptly as a post-grand final hangover.
In a week that should have been reserved exclusively for pats on the back, civic receptions and ongoing celebrations, disappointment about departing players has left an unwelcome aftertaste.
Within days of bringing the A-League trophy to Newcastle after Sunday's 1-0 grand final win against Central Coast, the greatest soccer team ever to represent the Hunter was starting to fragment.
Defender Andrew Durante, voted man of the match last Sunday, was the first to confirm his exit, agreeing to a two-year deal with Wellington Phoenix just hours before the Jets were honoured by Lord Mayor John Tate and a rain-drenched crowd at City Hall.
Striker Mark Bridge, who scored the only goal in the decider, is certain to follow out the back door and is merely waiting for Sydney FC to formally announce on Monday he has agreed to a three-year deal.
Playmaker Stuart Musialik, a Newcastle junior, has been labelled the No.1 retention priority by Jets management, but his teammates and the club's supporters are entitled to be nervous about Melbourne Victory and Sydney lurking in the background, waving a fat chequebook.
Other off-contract Jets include Tarek Elrich, who has agreed in principle to stay but is yet to re-sign, Adam D'Apuzzo, Stephen Laybutt, Paul Kohler, Steve Eagleton, Ben Kennedy and Brazilian import Denni. Noel Spencer and Scott Tunbridge are both under contract for next season, but it is uncertain whether they will remain with Newcastle.
Little wonder that their teammates and coach Gary van Egmond are feeling let down by the powers that be.
Having overcome considerable odds to deliver a title, and having developed a squad young enough to potentially build a dynasty, van Egmond now has to go back to the drawing board.
And no doubt his biggest worry is what will happen at the end of next season when the likes of Joel and Adam Griffiths, Jade North and Ante Covic come off contract.
Those players are finding it hard to accept that their teammates have not been retained and are fuming in particular about owner Con Constantine's refusal to use third-party sponsorships to "top up" contracts.
But there are two sides to every story, and the Jets will not be the first sporting team in history to claim they have been torn apart by salary-cap restrictions.
You can't keep them all, especially when players such as Bridge and Musialik were signed for peanuts and have since established themselves as class players.
Just witness Melbourne Storm, who after last year's grand final lost Matt King, Ben Cross and Clint Newton.
Even in 1997, when the Knights made history, Adam Muir and Marc Glanville took the field knowing they were playing their last games for the club, having signed for North Sydney and Leeds respectively.
Jets officials remain confident that whoever else leaves in coming weeks will be adequately replaced.
That remains to be seen. But having worked so hard and waited so long for the credibility and profile they now command, it would be a tragedy if the Jets imploded next season and the bandwagon came to a grinding halt.
Article source http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/soccer/fragments-of-newcastles-dynasty-begin-breaking-away/1193537.html
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