I think the other option to free some money is to talk tough with Stein and say to him now unless you show some dramatic improvement in the remaining games come next year you have two choices. 1: We cancel your contract with no payout by mutual consent and you can go back to Europe and find a team or 2: you will spend next year playing the odd mid week game for the Nix B side with no possibility of playing a first team game.
sorry what? he seems to me to be one of the few players that pose a genuine threat, and at least puts in the effort to work at his game. I'd be saddened to see him cast out before the likes of Totori or Smith even.