North Set To Join Koreans

Newcastle Herald

Friday December 12, 2008

ROBERT DILLON A-LEAGUE

JADE North is set to announce as early as today that he is joining a Korean club and has at most three games left in the Newcastle Jets' colours.

Jets officials confirmed yesterday that they had been contacted by a K-League club, believed to be Incheon United, who have made a concrete offer for the Newcastle skipper and Socceroos defender.

New A-League franchise North Queensland Fury, who had signed North as their marquee player from next season, announced last night they had released him from that contract by mutual agreement.

The Jets expect to receive a six-figure transfer fee for the 26-year-old, who is under contract for the rest of the A-League campaign and Newcastle's early games in the Asian Champions League.

He will reportedly be on a deal worth close to $2 million over three years, double what he would have made at North Queensland.

North is poised to link with Incheon in the new year, which means Newcastle's Boxing Day derby clash with Central Coast at EnergyAustralia Stadium will be his last in a gold shirt.

He will also be available for Newcastle's games against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday and Melbourne at EAS on Friday week.

North, the man who skippered Newcastle to last season's A-League grand final victory, has been linked with overseas clubs since the end of last season after declaring that he wanted to head abroad "because I've done everything I can possibly do in Australia now".

Several approaches from foreign clubs have fallen through, but this time it appears a done deal.

North told The Herald last night that there was "strong interest" from abroad, but he was reluctant to comment until a deal was finalised.

"The Jets have said they're taking care of it," North said. "It's in their hands and I just have to wait and see. If it's all going ahead, I should know more tomorrow."

Jets owner Con Constantine said he "can't say too much until it's all signed on the bottom line" but added that "it all looks very promising".

Continued Page 68

North poised to leave Newcastle for Korea

From Page 72

"The club that we're speaking to, they have not signed on the dotted line, but they have agreed to everything," he said.

Jets chief executive John Tsatsimas said the offer was "something we're seriously considering at this point".

"We're still working out the specifics at the moment," he said. "We've got to work out the desires of the player, the desires of the club. There are a variety of factors that you have to take into consideration."

Incheon finished ninth in the 14-team K-League last season. Their new season does not kick off until March.

The team is based in Korea's third-largest city and play out of a 50,000-seat stadium built for the 2002 World Cup.

North Queensland boss Don Matheson told AAP yesterday that there were no hard feelings with "good mate" North.

"It is perfectly legitimate for players to aspire to have experience overseas to try to further their career, as well as gain some valuable life experience, and Jade is at that point in his life," Matheson said.

"He has a good offer from an overseas club and we're happy for him to pursue his dream. He's a good mate of mine and it will remain that way. If he comes back, he is welcome here any time."

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home