Goal.com

17/05/2012 4:28:00 PM

Bite-sized news for you to chew over - Paston re-signs at Phoenix, new western Sydney chairman Gorman gets Mariners approval and much more

Mark Paston will renew his rivalry with Glen Moss at Wellington Phoenix again next season after agreeing a new one-year deal with the A-League club.  Paston overcame English import Tony Warner to be an ever-present in the second half of the 2011-12 A-League campaign, which included his first finals series, after surgery on broken legs ruled him out of the Phoenix's previous two appearances.  With Moss returning to Wellington after stints with Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast United, the two New Zealand goalkeepers will once again by vying for the No.1 shirt at club and international level.  "I feel I've still got plenty to offer and am looking forward to next season already," Paston said.  "Glen and myself have been vying for the goalkeeping spot at the club before, as well as with the All Whites, and it will be good to have such strong opposition for the position."  Phoenix head coach Ricki Herbert has made no secret of the fact he wanted the 35-year-old keeper to remain at the club.  "Mark had a fantastic season and it was important to keep him at the club," said Herbert, who is still working through negotiations with Chris Greenacre and Dani Sanchez.

The Central Coast Mariners have thrown their weight behind Football Federation Australia's decision to appoint Lyall Gorman as executive chairman of the A-League's new western Sydney club.  The former Mariners chairman steps across from his role as A-League chief to head up the off-field operations of the fledgling outfit.  Peter Turnbull - Gorman's successor at the Mariners - believes the appointment is the perfect one for the new club: "I can honestly think of few better people for the job," Turnbull said.  "Lyall has an outstanding ability to develop new businesses and we believe many of the principles he helped instill in the culture of the Mariners he will look to implement in the new Western Sydney franchise."

Brisbane Roar attacking midfielder Mitch Nichols is preparing himself for the end of his time at the club, with a trial at promotion-chasing Danish 1st Division club Randers beginning in the coming days.  The 23-year-old departs Brisbane on Saturday to train at the club, which is on track for promotion to the Superliga.  He has made 104 appearances for the Roar, but could have made his last in Wednesday's 1-1 draw in the AFC Champions League with Beijing Guoan if the trial goes well and Randers are promoted.  "It's the right time for me to try something new," Nichols told The Courier Mail.  "They (Randers) are very interested. If I impress and they get promoted, I see things going forward."

New Perth Glory signing Scott Jamieson is looking forward to continuing his A-League career under Ian Ferguson.  The twice-capped Australia international joins the club from Sydney FC, where he made 51 appearances but struggled with consistency at the end of his second season at the club.  A youth-team graduate of English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers, 23-year-old Jamieson wasted little time in joining 2011-12 grand finalists Glory after his release from the Sky Blues.  "I'm very excited to be heading to Perth," said Jamieson, who joined his first A-League club Adelaide United in 2008.  "I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and would like to thank Ian Ferguson.  From the first time I had contact with Perth Glory it felt like a good fit.  Now I'm looking forward to playing with a group of talented players and developing my game with an astute coaching staff."

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