Jets hit more turbulence

THE NEWCASTLE HERALD

By JAMES GARDINER

OLYROOS attacking midfielder Troy Hearfield is caught in the middle of a tug of war between reigning A-League champions Newcastle and trans-Tasman rivals Wellington Phoenix.

Hearfield has a year to run on his contract at the Jets but asserts he was granted a release. His future now hinges on a tribunal ruling by Football Federation Australia.

In a potentially more alarming development, the Jets could be in danger of losing Socceroos defender Adam Griffiths, who has an exit clause in his contract and has been linked to a move to China.

Hearfield has contacted the Professional Football Association for advice and The Herald has learnt he will argue:

[PI9016] Jets coach Gary van Egmond granted him an in-principle release via SMS on March 1;

[PI9016] he was told two days later that he was no longer required at Jets training; and

[PI9016] the following day (March 4) the Jets reneged on the release after they missed out on signing Ahmad Elrich.

Hearfield's manager, Tony Rallis, confirmed the matter would be heard by a tribunal at a date yet to be fixed.

"There was a release granted, but it was then withdrawn," Rallis said. "We were granted a release. The player was barred from training. The release was further confirmed [on the Tuesday].

"Then 90 minutes later the club decided, for whatever reasons best known to the club, they were not going to grant that release."

Van Egmond directed all questions on the Hearfield situation to chief executive John Tsatsimas, who did not return The Herald's calls.

Born and bred in Tamworth, Hearfield joined the Jets from the Australian Institute of Sport as a trainee two years ago. He was added to the full-time roster this season.

He made 14 appearances, eight in the starting side, but was not a member of the squad that beat Central Coast 1-0 in the grand final.

New signings James Holland and Korean Song Jin-Hyung have jumped ahead of Hearfield, and the 20-year-old believes his chance of making the Olyroos squad would be better if he was getting more game time at another club.

Meanwhile, van Egmond confirmed the Griffiths get-out clause, which has to be exercised by April 30.

But the coach was hopeful the 28-year-old would remain at the club despite speculation linking him to China, where younger brother Ryan is on loan from Rapid Bucharest to Liaoning FC a deal believed to be worth more than $500,000 a season.

"There has been talk of a Chinese club, but as yet there has not been an offer," van Egmond said. "You are never confident, but you would like to think he would stay.

"He has got himself in the national team from here.

"You can see there has been benefits of him coming back to Newcastle.

"The last thing he wants to do, with all due respect, is go back to a Bournemouth [in the English third tier] and be in the wilderness again."

The Jets have already lost grand final heroes Mark Bridge (Sydney), Andrew Durante (Wellington) and Stuart Musialik (Sydney).

They have also released Steve Eagleton, Paul Kohler, Stephen Laybutt and Denni.

Negotiations with Sydney midfielder Ruben Zadkovich have stalled after he requested a ceiling on a transfer fee.

The Jets have also held preliminary discussions with two expatriates, believed to be Hartlepool striker Joel Porter and former national youth defender Adrian Madaschi, who is at Portosummaga in the Italian Serie C.

Van Egmond and assistant Mark Jones will head to Italy next month where they will assess potential recruits and spend five days at Italia giants AS Roma.

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