Contracted Players - Return of the Long Pins

https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/kurto-coup-as-pole-vaults-to-western-united

Seems likely that Rudan expects to be there next season, I wouldn't begrudge the club wasting money and just forcing Rudan to see out his contract at home.

So Rudan is going to Western United and going to most likely poach all of our players. Almost all of out players are off contract. David Williams also rumoured to be signing with Western United. Hate to be all doom and gloom but it looks like we'll be near the bottom of the table again next season. Enjoy this season while you can.

Yeah we should enjoy this while it lasts. All a bit strange. But the Phoenix are clearly still a tight unit, and all playing for Rudan. Will be a great ride potentially for the next 2 months before he goes.

So Rudan's signed Kurto for WU. Will take Krishna and Williams. Who else ?

 Max Burgess, Nathan Burns, Tom Doyle, Andrew Durante, Callan Elliot (youth), Antony Golec, Justin Gulley, Michal Kopczynski (loan deal), Roy Krishna, Filip Kurto, Ryan Lowry, Mandi, Oli Sail, Cillian Sheridan, David Williams.

Not seeing the Kurto "deal" reported anywhere else.....

Rumours have been going around for a while. In the A-League, these secrets are rarely kept close to chests.

It's a strange feeling. We're playing some amazing football, but all I could think when Williams buried that 3rd was 'damn, too bad we won't see him next year'

We'll be alright if we can bring in either Gleeson or Marinovic to replace him. Then it's how do we use the now free import spot.

I don't see Krishna heading to Western United, I can't see them paying him more than he'd get at the Nix. If he's going to leave it would surely be to a higher level rather than sideways.

Let's just wait until the league working group that Morrison is on reports back, shall we? No point getting all knotted until then. Due today if memory serves me right.

This is hardly an announcement by club(s) or Kurto. It's just rumour mongering.

Don't believe a word of it.

Legitimately every single Rudan-to-Western-United article on SBS, including this Kurto one, has been written by the same guy - Dave Lewis - who has been called out multiple times before for fabricating rumours, including by Aussie international Craig Moore. Very anti-Nix to boot.

.@sbs writer Dave Lewis again no call to club but run with false story day b4 a game. 5 in total this season. Your a great journo?#imposter

— Craig Moore (@CraigMoore_18) March 4, 2017

It is but sounds like it might be delayed. 

SBS Kids Channel reporting as fact again

Whats the bet this week there is a story about how Williams has signed a multi year deal at the WU as well. The thing that really winds me up the most is the definitive language that he uses every time. He doesn't even cop out with the old "sources believe that..." Instead he straight up reports rumours as facts. 3 months ago the announcement of Rudan as head coach at WU was "imminent". Fudge off Dave Lewis, you disingenuous wanker. 

Genuinely would hate to see Willo sign for that new team. He is everything that I enjoy seeing in a forward.

He liked my tweet below:

https://twitter.com/stu_mack01/status/111214200895...

I know he's got to do what's right for him and his family, just hope it's in nix colours...

The trouble with all these rumours is there's smoke. 

It would hurt, but it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Imagine if Rudan took McCowatt and Burgess too, just as they're starting to fire in their respective leagues.

What are Western United's colours - just out of curiousity - would they look good on a sad old middle aged man? 

Green and black.

Cheers. Want one too? :)

Dave Lewis regularly interacts  with Lou Sticca, who has a lot to do with Western United.

Put two and two together..

we are under the squad size anyway, so you could sign him and a right back

I don’t understand Welnix ... what are Morrison and Dome doing surely we should be sorting Rudan out getting him a house and moving his family seems pretty straight forward then locking in the rest of the players.  It all seems like a no brained that should be happening NOW!  If they are not then they are letting the club and us fans down.

Gee, I dunno. Maybe they're focused on securing the long term future of the club in the A League, before acting on rumours from muck rakers? Whatever they're doing, I'm 99.9% sure it's not letting the club and us fans down. 

We need a licence past 2020 or the Welnix group are pushing $$$ not sh!t down the drain.

What makes you think they're not doing everything they can? Rudan has said he want's investment, he said he want's a project. Right now WelNix can't give him either. When these rumors started to get serious Dome said they had a package which would entice him to stay, bu that they'd be a few months away from being able to offer it. One guess is that the package is contingent on the license being confirmed. Morison has talked repeatedly about overseas investments and a partnership from a bigger club in Asia or Europe, you could surmise that if a deal was likely it would be contingent on a long term license.

A one year deal with a club that may or may not have a future is hardly something to move your family for. Rudan has repeatedly talked about how much he likes Wellington and New Zealand, the city won't be the issue the lack of future and uncertainty because of it will be.

I have no doubt that the Welnix will be moving earth and sky to make Rudan stay. That means getting a license extension and that means probably getting more investment before he signs on. 

Not for me please, both for patriotic and esthetic reasons.

In those colours I would look like Kermit The Frog had joined the Gestapo.

Golec talks about?

"It may go down as one of the best-timed mid-season moves in A-League history."

So, seven figures over three years deal in front of Roy according to Richard Parkin on the pod.

Is that at MCFC or WU?

Because he's not staying here.

It's the offer the Phoenix have put in front of him.

You can’t say that’s not ambition.

Commits good money to a footballer and a good incentive for Krishna knowing he is a million dollar footballer

Newshubs latest article saying Durante is going around for another year.

Hmm- time for succession is approaching...

Not sure about starting 

Please no. Unfortunately, he's already running the risk of becoming a liability in the backline. Taylor needs to become the elder statesman in defense

With Rudan leaving, and soo many players still unsigned, the club needs to otherwise be as stable as much as possible.

Taylor has also proven to be a bit injury prone, missing a number of games now.

No problem with Dura going around another year, but hopefully a younger quality CB can be signed in the off season, as part of a succession plan.

Absolutely, would be lunacy to not keep him on board. Very pleased if that is the case.

Sounds like newshub got their wires crossed. https://twitter.com/ByPhillipRollo/status/1119355699044110336?s=09

surely we can resign Burgess?

Depends what Rudans doing tbh if he is going to Melbourne then it'd be likely for Burgess to follow as Rudan was the main reason we got him and he also fits Melbournes agenda of getting young aussies

I think at this stage it's actually a good thing that burns is currently our second highest paid player. Means when he isn't re-signed we've actually good a bit more cash to throw at someone like David Williams or Burgess that we want to keep. I hear Roy has turned down a 500k per year deal in the Indian league, and that Victory have tabled an offer similar to ours (which is marquee money). Just hope we can keep Roy and Willo together

that is one factor. $ is a good one too

We normally chuck appearance related extensions into deals with NPL players, so would be typical Phoenix that the one time it actually helps us we don't have one.