RSS
ATOM
advertisement
Newcastle Jets Lose Ante Covic To IF Elfsborg
It's literally a big blow for one of Australia's Asian Champions League representatives, with towering shot-stopper Ante Covic set to leave Newcastle.
|
Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
Mar 17, 2009 10:54:58 PM
The seemingly perpetual player exodus from the A-League continues, as the Newcastle Jets confirmed first-choice goalkeeper and Australia international Ante Covic will leave the club for Europe.
Immediately following Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Ulsan Hyundai in their Asian Champions League clash yesterday evening, manager Gary Van Egmond told Fox Sports in a post-match interview that Covic had played his last game for the club.
Quoted by The Herald, Jets chief executive John Tsatsimas then confirmed the 33 year-old will be joining Swedish outfit IF Elfsborg provided they pay compensation to the A-League club – Covic was well into the last six months of his current contract.
“Our hands are tied," Tsatsimas said. "At the end of the day, provided Elfsborg come up with the appropriate compensation, it becomes an automatic trigger because he is over 28 years of age.
“Because he has been here more than two years the club that comes in can automatically buy out his contract."
Covic has failed to cement himself in the national team set-up of Dutch manager Pim Verbeek and suffered as the Jets slumped into last place as they attempted to defend their A-League title this season.
The likes of Michael Theoklitos and Eugene Galekovic – goalkeepers with Grand Finalists Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United respectively – have overtaken him and along with Olyroo Danny Vukovic present youthful alternatives to the former Hammarby ‘keeper.
His sudden departure now thrusts the Jets into a particularly uncomfortable position: they are only two games into an Asian Champions League campaign where qualification from the group stages suddenly seems a distinct possibility.
Both a leadership figure and a domineering physical presence at the back, Covic’s departure comes as a massive blow to Gary Van Egmond’s side, with inexperienced 22 year-old Ben Kennedy set to take his place for the remainder of the competition.
Covic won one A-League title during his time at the club.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
Immediately following Newcastle’s 2-0 win over Ulsan Hyundai in their Asian Champions League clash yesterday evening, manager Gary Van Egmond told Fox Sports in a post-match interview that Covic had played his last game for the club.
Quoted by The Herald, Jets chief executive John Tsatsimas then confirmed the 33 year-old will be joining Swedish outfit IF Elfsborg provided they pay compensation to the A-League club – Covic was well into the last six months of his current contract.
“Our hands are tied," Tsatsimas said. "At the end of the day, provided Elfsborg come up with the appropriate compensation, it becomes an automatic trigger because he is over 28 years of age.
“Because he has been here more than two years the club that comes in can automatically buy out his contract."
Covic has failed to cement himself in the national team set-up of Dutch manager Pim Verbeek and suffered as the Jets slumped into last place as they attempted to defend their A-League title this season.
The likes of Michael Theoklitos and Eugene Galekovic – goalkeepers with Grand Finalists Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United respectively – have overtaken him and along with Olyroo Danny Vukovic present youthful alternatives to the former Hammarby ‘keeper.
His sudden departure now thrusts the Jets into a particularly uncomfortable position: they are only two games into an Asian Champions League campaign where qualification from the group stages suddenly seems a distinct possibility.
Both a leadership figure and a domineering physical presence at the back, Covic’s departure comes as a massive blow to Gary Van Egmond’s side, with inexperienced 22 year-old Ben Kennedy set to take his place for the remainder of the competition.
Covic won one A-League title during his time at the club.
Chris Paraskevas, Goal.com
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
2 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Capello remains one of the greats of the game
After tasting success wherever he had gone previously, the coach will look upon his time at Wembley as an incomplete job rather than a complete failure
-
Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback?
The divisive Uruguayan can look to history when he starts against United on Saturday for the first time since receiving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra
-
Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool
The former Reds defender believes that the Uruguayan must put controversy to the back of his mind when his team face the champions
-
The importance of Champions League qualification
The Ruhr side's remarkable run in Europe's elite tournament saw their revenue unexpectedly soar last season, but some teams are structured to depend on such results to survive
-
Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round
Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...
Advertisement
Advertisement
