THE NEWCASTLE HERALD
By James Gardiner
NEWCASTLE Jets owner Con Constantine has big plans for star striker Joel Griffiths which include a role at the club once his playing days are over.
Griffiths, who is in Japan on loan at Avispa Fukuoka, has a year to run on his contract at the Jets but is keen to settle his long-term future.
His adviser Luke Torossian met with Constantine and Jets chief executive John Tsatsimas this month to discuss a four-year extension.
The Herald reported yesterday Griffiths was disappointed with the Jets' initial offer of a two-year extension and had called on the club to show him some loyalty.
But Constantine said yesterday he would be more than happy to accommodate Griffiths's request, but he wanted to wait until the striker returned from Japan.
"It is no secret that I want Joel to stay in Newcastle," Constantine said. "He has been a very good player for the club and has done so much for the club.
"We want to take that forward.
"I want to build a [football] academy, and Joel could have a role in that once he has finished playing.
"That can only be done once I sit down with Joel face to face. Is he only interested in staying in Newcastle for the three or four years of his football career, or does he want to go further and be part of an academy?"
There is no doubt about Griffiths's value to the Jets, who yesterday lost out to Derby County in the battle for Olyroos utility Ruben Zadkovich.
Griffiths was the A-League and Jets player of the year and set a new goalscoring record in winning the competition's Golden Boot.
The Jets have hinted that Griffiths, who is on $170,000 a season, could replace flop Mario Jardel as the club's marquee player.
"Until I sit down with Joel it is very hard to say which way we are going to go," Constantine said.
"Joel has done the right thing by the club. The four of us myself, [coach] Gary [van Egmond], [director of football] Remo [Nogarotto] and Joel have to sit around the table, go through the motions, and work out what we are going to do next."
Constantine said the academy was part of a five-year plan.
"The academy is a major step forward," Constantine said.
"Three years ago I put a plan in place to win the grand final and we delivered. It gets harder as we go.
"The people who are around me and advising are telling me an academy is the way to go. We want to do something special. I want to see a situation where our academy will be so good that people from all over Australia will want to attend."
He has already met with the University of Newcastle and hopes to put in place learning programs to coincide with the academy.
"What happens when our players finish in the A-League, say, after three years?" Constantine said. "They don't know what to do next.
"I want to be in a position where we can say while you are in Newcastle there will be a program in place with the university where you can learn something. Then when you do finish football, they have something to look forward to."
He also said he was in negotiations with a couple of overseas clubs about playing a pre-season friendly against the Jets at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
Italian giants Juventus are expected to play a friendly against Melbourne Victory at the Telstra Dome on May 30 as part of an Asia-Pacific tour.
Greek side Olympiakos are also looking to play games in Australia.
"It is like football players until we sign the dotted line, nothing is 100 per cent," Constantine said.
Article Source http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/soccer/joel-big-part-of-jets-future-constantine/1225983.html
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