THE NEWCASTLE HERALD
By JAMES GARDINER
COACH Gary van Egmond will look overseas to complete the Newcastle Jets playing roster after back-up goalkeeper Ben Kennedy signed off on a two-year deal yesterday.
The departure of grand final heroes Andrew Durante (Wellington), Mark Bridge and Stuart Musialik (both Sydney) has left a big hole in the Jets squad.
Van Egmond has earmarked Olyroos utility Ruben Zadkovich for one position and hopes to add four more players from outside Australia to fill his 20-man squad.
"We have some irons in the fire," van Egmond said.
"It is vitally important that we get it right. We need to make sure the people that we bring in are the right people.
"We are obviously looking to bring Ruben in. Hopefully that will happen once he gets back from Socceroos duties in Singapore.
"Everything else is overseas, but nothing, at this stage, is concrete."
Most other A-League clubs, led by Sydney, have been highly active on the player market.
The Jets failed in last-ditch attempts to re-sign the three departing grand final heroes and also missed the signature of former Socceroo Ahmad Elrich, who joined arch rivals Central Coast.
But van Egmond was adamant the Jets had not fallen behind the eight ball.
The Jets had made offers of $130,000 a season to Bridge and Musialik and $90,000 to Durante.
Van Egmond should have at least $250,000 to spend.
The Jets also have the option of extending the contract of Joel Griffiths and making him the club's marquee player, whose wage about $200,000 is not included in the $1.8 million salary cap.
"There are a few dollars spare, but we need to see where we will spend it," van Egmond said.
"The salary cap has gone up a little, but not greatly, and other people's wages have gone up as well. [CEO] John Tsatsimas is looking after the money side of it. I could not tell you if we had $300,000, $500,000 or whatever it might be.
"What we need to do is identify some decent players."
Van Egmond and assistant Mark Jones will head to Italy, where director of football Remo Nogarotto has been identifying potential signings, next month.
They went on a similar trip to South America last year which yielded little. The club later signed Argentinian Jorge Drovandi and Brazilian Denni from DVD footage. Neither have been retained.
Van Egmond will also use the trip to Italy to have a look at youth development programs before the introduction of an A-League youth league next season.
Kennedy, 21, sat the entire A-League season on the bench but is regarded as one of the most promising goalkeeping prospects in the country.
"In the next couple of years we will start to see Ben Kennedy really put pressure on [first-choice keeper] Ante Covic," van Egmond said. "He's looking sharper, he's getting bigger, he's got more presence within the goals and he's always had good feet."
Despite his lack of game time, Kennedy said the decision to stay in Newcastle was an easy one.
"I'm a Newcastle boy and the chance to play in the A-League for my home club made it an easy choice," he said.
The Jets will continue to train until April 11 before a five-week break.
Musialik is still working with the squad, despite signing with Sydney.
"I have never had a problem with Stuart and I can't envisage I will have a problem with Stuart," van Egmond said. "He will train with us until the end of March. Sydney start [pre-season training] on April 28. That will give him time to get himself physically and mentally away from football and ready for his move to the big smoke."
Article source http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/soccer/jets-look-offshore-dutchy-wants-overseas-talent-to-fill-out-squad/1205463.html
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