silverfox
Well-Known Member
News in Aussie.............
SOCCEROO David Carney finds himself in the middle of a tug of war between Sydney FC and English Championship club Sheffield United for his services.
Carney's team-mate in Sydney and the national side Mark Milligan is also a target for the Blades.
Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe yesterday said: "I expect Carney is on a plane winging to England.
"I would say he is one of the players we're interested in. While we've not signed him yet, he'd love Sheffield United.
"We are a great club, we are the world's oldest United and people forget that. Not Man United, but Sheffield United."
McCabe's enthusiasm for Carney, however, may be tempered by the stance of Sydney FC chief executive George Perry who said: "David is expected to report to training on Monday morning.
"There has been no formal offer from Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday or any other club that has come across my desk for Carney.
"As far as I am concerned David Carney is 27 days into a two-year contract, while Mark Milligan still has a year to run on his deal.
"But it is my understanding (of the immigration laws) as Milligan has no family ties to the UK he can't get a (British) passport, which would preclude him from obtaining a work visa."
Carney's Sydney-based agent Michael Crismale didn't return The Weekend Australian's phone calls. Milligan's agent Craig Nettlebeck, the former Sydney Swan, Melbourne Demons and Fremantle defender, is in Europe and could not be contacted.
McCabe, a wealthy realtor with extensive real estate interests in Australia, said: "I expect we can do business in Australia with some of your younger A-League players."
When pressed if this included the Sydney FC pair of Carney and Milligan, McCabe said: "You never know.
"We've had some terrific Australians at Sheffield United, such as Shaun Murphy, Doug Hodgson and Carl Veart. As I've blended property with football in the UK, I see no reason not to do it here in Australia as you are a great sporting nation.
"With our past contacts with those three players, I hope we can get a regular ****** of Australian talent."
Meanwhile, Sydney will give former Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Michael Enfield and former Socceroo defender Tony Popovic their first runs with the club against the Central Coast at Canberra Stadium tomorrow.
Enfield has been signed to a two-year deal after impressing coach Branko Culina in training.
Popovic has been back in the country for just two weeks after an 11-year absence playing in Japan, England and the Middle East.
The vastly experienced 34- year-old left Sydney United in 1996 to join former national coach Eddie Thomson at J-League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima before linking with Crystal Palace in 2001, where he stayed until last year, when he joined the Al-Arabi club in Qatar.
Popovic, a defensive enforcer who made 58 appearances for the Socceroos and was a member of Australia's 2006 World Cup squad, reunites with Culina who was his coach at Sydney United.
Elsewhere, Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar has completed his off-season buying spree with the signing of central defender Milan Susak.
The 23-year-old had been on trial with the Reds after a spell with the Vojvodina club in Serbia and impressed Vidmar enough to warrant offering the former Sydneysider a contract.
"I was reasonably pleased with what he had to offer in the two games he's played," Vidmar said.
Having signed Susak to a one-year deal, 22 of the 23 available spots available are now filled at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The final spot has been left vacant by Vidmar, who still has the option of signing another player when the transfer window next opens.
The cut-off date for all A-League squads to be finalised with the FFA is July 31.
SOCCEROO David Carney finds himself in the middle of a tug of war between Sydney FC and English Championship club Sheffield United for his services.
Carney's team-mate in Sydney and the national side Mark Milligan is also a target for the Blades.
Sheffield United chairman Kevin McCabe yesterday said: "I expect Carney is on a plane winging to England.
"I would say he is one of the players we're interested in. While we've not signed him yet, he'd love Sheffield United.
"We are a great club, we are the world's oldest United and people forget that. Not Man United, but Sheffield United."
McCabe's enthusiasm for Carney, however, may be tempered by the stance of Sydney FC chief executive George Perry who said: "David is expected to report to training on Monday morning.
"There has been no formal offer from Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday or any other club that has come across my desk for Carney.
"As far as I am concerned David Carney is 27 days into a two-year contract, while Mark Milligan still has a year to run on his deal.
"But it is my understanding (of the immigration laws) as Milligan has no family ties to the UK he can't get a (British) passport, which would preclude him from obtaining a work visa."
Carney's Sydney-based agent Michael Crismale didn't return The Weekend Australian's phone calls. Milligan's agent Craig Nettlebeck, the former Sydney Swan, Melbourne Demons and Fremantle defender, is in Europe and could not be contacted.
McCabe, a wealthy realtor with extensive real estate interests in Australia, said: "I expect we can do business in Australia with some of your younger A-League players."
When pressed if this included the Sydney FC pair of Carney and Milligan, McCabe said: "You never know.
"We've had some terrific Australians at Sheffield United, such as Shaun Murphy, Doug Hodgson and Carl Veart. As I've blended property with football in the UK, I see no reason not to do it here in Australia as you are a great sporting nation.
"With our past contacts with those three players, I hope we can get a regular ****** of Australian talent."
Meanwhile, Sydney will give former Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Michael Enfield and former Socceroo defender Tony Popovic their first runs with the club against the Central Coast at Canberra Stadium tomorrow.
Enfield has been signed to a two-year deal after impressing coach Branko Culina in training.
Popovic has been back in the country for just two weeks after an 11-year absence playing in Japan, England and the Middle East.
The vastly experienced 34- year-old left Sydney United in 1996 to join former national coach Eddie Thomson at J-League club Sanfrecce Hiroshima before linking with Crystal Palace in 2001, where he stayed until last year, when he joined the Al-Arabi club in Qatar.
Popovic, a defensive enforcer who made 58 appearances for the Socceroos and was a member of Australia's 2006 World Cup squad, reunites with Culina who was his coach at Sydney United.
Elsewhere, Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar has completed his off-season buying spree with the signing of central defender Milan Susak.
The 23-year-old had been on trial with the Reds after a spell with the Vojvodina club in Serbia and impressed Vidmar enough to warrant offering the former Sydneysider a contract.
"I was reasonably pleased with what he had to offer in the two games he's played," Vidmar said.
Having signed Susak to a one-year deal, 22 of the 23 available spots available are now filled at Hindmarsh Stadium.
The final spot has been left vacant by Vidmar, who still has the option of signing another player when the transfer window next opens.
The cut-off date for all A-League squads to be finalised with the FFA is July 31.