SA Footy

The World Game wrote:Colosimo and trio join Heart

After weeks of negotiations with a clutch of A-League players, Melbourne Heart have snared Newcastle’s Matt Thompson, Adelaide’s Kristian Sarkies, Central Coast’s Dean Heffernan and have agreed personal terms with sought-after Simon Colosimo.

Fringe Socceroo Colosimo, playing the best football of his career, is the pick of the four-pronged swoop with a Heart insider revealing on Monday night that the defender had committed himself to the club on a three-year deal worth a hefty $750,000.

While Colosimo’s agent Leo Karis decreed that no deal had yet been done, the Heart source insisted that Colosimo – certain to be reinstated to the national team for January’s Asian Cup qualifier against Kuwait – was “in the bag”.

“There have been discussions certainly and an offer for Simon is on the table but he will not be making a final call on his future for a few weeks yet,” Karis explained.

Colosimo had indicated that a move to Asia in January was on his radar, but even if that were to go ahead it might only be short-term option with a view to keeping him in prime condition for South Africa 2010.

News of the his switch back to his home town will be a bitter blow for Sydney FC officials who were desperate to secure the 30-year-old defender for two more years with his current contract due to expire in June.

Capped 24 times by Australia, Colosimo has been a colossus for Sydney this season after an injury-battered first year at the club he joined from Perth Glory.

Also heading south is Mariners defender Heffernan, who like the others will be out of contract in June.

Heffernan, 29, made his Socceroos debut against Indonesia in January and has been a stand-out this season for the marauding Mariners after returning from a broken leg and a character-building loan move to Bundesliga outfit Nurnberg.

While chief executive Scott Munn declined to confirm any of the signings in the interests of protecting players with a potential backlash from fans at their current clubs, it’s understood that Newcastle skipper Thompson and Adelaide United’s former Melbourne Victory attacking midfielder Sarkies put pen to paper before coach John van’t Schip jetted to Europe late last week with his shopping trolley and an order for four visa players.

Newcastle owner Con Constantine last week hinted that midfielder Thompson, 27, was on his way after the A-League strugglers failed to match the $170,000 two-year offer on the table from the Heart.

Sarkies, a grand final winner and goalscorer with the Victory when they crushed Adelaide 6-0 in season two of the A-League, is expected to earn $150,000.

Like Thompson, he has been in negotiations with Munn and the Heart’s football director John Didulica for a prolonged period after the club contacted the Reds seeking permission, to talk to him as his current contract winds down.

Deadball specialist Sarkies, for all his promise, made just 35 appearances in two-and-half injury marred seasons with the Reds and is not a guaranteed starter under coach Aurelio Vidmar.

He trained with the Socceroos at the 2006 World Cup and won plaudits from then coach Guus Hiddink, who handed him the first of two Socceroos caps in the 3-1 World Cup warm win over Liechtenstein.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/a-league ... art-260272

Il Duce wrote:Good work by the heart to pick up Colosimo and Heffernan and also thank you for taking Sarkies off our hands. Like most United fans we are not sad to see the back of him, however whats the bet he will play his socks of for the heart and probley destroy us when we play them.

Il Duce wrote:Quote:The Central Coast Mariners have made a major signing coup, North Queensland Fury striker Daniel McBreen to join the club for two years from the start of next season.

Born in Burnley in the North of England, McBreen migrated to Australia with his family when he was just six weeks old, and grew up in Newcastle’s Western Suburbs.

He played his junior football for Edgeworth before signing on with Newcastle United for their inaugural National Soccer League campaign in 2000.

After scoring nine goals in his 36 appearances at Newcastle, McBreen took up an offer with Romanian side FC Universitatea Craiova, before embarking on a six-year career in the English and Scottish league.

The most notable stint was with Scottish Premier League side Falkirk, where he managed 21 goals in 64 appearances for the Bairns.

The now 32-year-old returned to Australia at the start of the current season to take up a deal with the Fury, scoring three goals so far this campaign and impressing many with his performances alongside marquee striker Robbie Fowler.

“We’ve got a great goalscoring record this season, we’ve scored the third most goals of any club in the league, and I think Daniel can come in and help us in front of goal next year as well," Mariners manager Lawrie McKinna said.

After seven years away, which yielded highlights such as a Scottish Cup semi final goal against Rangers at Hampden Park and an FA Trophy final appearance at Wembley, McBreen is excited to be returning home.

“It’s good to get a two year contract because it gives you some stability, and you can set your mind on what you want to do, but to be at a good club is great as well,” said McBreen.

“It’s an established club which has done well in the past, and I’m really looking forward to getting there and being a part of it."

Keefy wrote:SERGINHO van Dijk will officially be announced as Adelaide United's newest AFC Champions League signing today.

The Dutch-born Brisbane Roar striker will join United as soon as his domestic duties are complete when the Queenslanders play their last A-League match of the season against Perth Glory in Perth on Saturday night.

It's understood van Dijk has signed a six-month contract with the option of extending his deal once Champions League duties are complete.