GCU sign Rigters

Former Premier League striker Maceo Rigters may have been too expensive for the Wellington Phoenix, but he wasn't for A-League football rivals Gold Coast United.

A week after turning down the Phoenix because they could not meet his wage demands, the Dutchman agreed terms with Miron Bleiberg's Gold Coast team and is due to land on the Glitter Strip today.

Rigters, 27, who came off contract with Blackburn Rovers this year, becomes Gold Coast's 23rd and final signing.

After flying out to New Zealand and trialling with the Phoenix for a matter of days - he scored a goal and was hugely impressive in a 5-1 loss against Brisbane in Dunedin last month - he snubbed a contract offer by the Phoenix.

It's understood the Wellington club made him an offer in the vicinity of $200,000 a year, which is good money in A-League terms, but Fairfax Media has been told the player's camp wanted at least twice that figure and the
Phoenix could not stretch that far.

Now he will strip up alongside former Phoenix marksman Dylan Macallister for Gold Coast, who have a history of trumping the Phoenix when it comes to strikers.

They signed former Socceroo Joel Porter when he was a Phoenix target and lured gun All Whites striker Shane Smeltz away from Westpac Stadium in the same pre-season.

''Maceo has a very good pedigree and we have had positive reports from our two other Dutch players about his qualities - they both know him quite well,'' Bleiberg said.

The Phoenix are still desperately searching for strikepower ahead of the upcoming season, which starts for them on October 9, against Gold Coast