Sydney FC vow they're bridging gap when it comes to European player transfers

THE NEWCASTLE HERALD

By Michael Cockerill

SYDNEY FC chairman Andrew Kemeny insists the club has learnt from the David Carney experience and will not allow players to go to Europe "for next to nothing", but it seems the hardline edict will not apply to new signing Mark Bridge.

Bridge, who scored the winner for the Newcastle Jets in last weekend's grand final, will be officially unveiled as a Sydney FC player on Monday.

The Olyroos striker will return to his home town on a three-year deal, but crucially looks to have secured something from Sydney he could not get from Newcastle a favourable get-out clause to go to a European club.

Bridge, 22, might eventually be followed down the F3 freeway by Jets and Olyroos teammate Stuart Musialik, who has also complained publicly about Newcastle's refusal to include a ceiling on overseas transfer fees in contract negotiations.

The contrasting policies of both clubs was demonstrated in the overseas transfers of two Socceroos Carney and Nick Carle during the last off-season.

Last July, Sydney allowed Carney to join Sheffield United for a paltry $125,000 the club insisting its hands were tied by the terms of the contract Carney signed just two months earlier.

In the same month, the Jets released Nick Carle to Turkish side Genclerbirligi for an initial sum of $600,000 a figure which could rise to almost $1 million because of a sell-on clause which will bear fruit if his new club, Bristol City, win promotion to the English Premier League next season.

The disparity in fees for two players of similar age and ability suggests Sydney FC have much to learn in dealing with agents and the overseas transfer market and Kemeny maintains lessons have been heeded.

"We are not going to allow players to leave for next to nothing," Kemeny said. "The Carney thing happened before my time, but I would agree it has taught the club a lesson."

But when pressed on the terms of Bridge's new deal, Kemeny added: "I'm not going to speculate on individual players, or who we have signed and who we haven't.

"What I can say is we enter into all negotiations with our eyes wide open. In principle, you try and negotiate the best deal you possibly can.

"You calculate what you need to do to get the services of a particular player to make sure you get the deal across the line."

Kemeny hinted while market forces might favour in-demand players, the introduction of the youth league next season will help swing the momentum back in favour of the clubs.

"At the moment, it's a limited market for good players; that's the reality," he said.

"But once the youth league gets up and running, there will be a much better opportunity to bed down young players, and to make provisions for where their careers might go in future.

"Once we start developing our own players, we can achieve better outcomes. It's an evolutionary thing."

Sydney FC, meantime, are set to make inroads into the rebuilding of their squad after next Tuesday's annual presentation night, with Bridge and Perth Glory midfielder Simon Colosimo the only recruits so far. The club has also been linked to Musialik and Perth Glory anchorman Mitchell Prentice, while Peruvian striker Bruno Salas who has trained with the team and is now playing with NSW Premier League side Blacktown City is also a target.

Olyroos utility Ruben Zadkovich linked to Newcastle is a confirmed departure, while goalkeeper Clint Bolton is in the sights of Gold Coast Galaxy, who will learn next week whether they have been granted entry to next season's competition. Out-of-contract Socceroos defender Mark Milligan has also been linked to Gold Coast, although he is hoping to secure a move to Europe after the Olympics.

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