Outspoken Newcastle Jet David Carney has recommitted his future to the club, alongside 12 others as the rebuilding process begins for this upcoming season.
Carney, 31, was one of five players sacked by the club in January following a player revolt, but the former Socceroo continued to train with the Jets in hopes of making an eventual comeback.
The Everton junior was rumoured to link up with former team and grand finalists Sydney FC in the January transfer window, however, a move never came to fruition.
Nigel Boogaard, Lee Ki-je, Enver Alivodic, Ben Kennedy, Ben Kantarovski, Mitch Cooper, Daniel Mullen, Andy Brennan, Josh Barresi, Radovan Pavicevic, and Themba Muata-Marlow have also decided to continue their careers in the Hunter region, while youngster Brandon Lundy is expected to re-signed with the club as well.
The FFA promised when they terminated the license of the Jets last month that all players will be offered similar contracts, and new signing Nigel Boogaard believes that the number of players who chose to stay in Newcastle shows the faith that still remains.
“It’s certainly encouraging to see that so many boys have committed given they had the opportunity to go elsewhere if they wanted to. To see them stick around gives me confidence that the group that is already there is committed to the cause and really wants to turn things around,” he said.
The 28-year-old Novocastrian said in a statement that he was always going to fulfil his contract.
“When I made a commitment to the club I knew I would fulfil it,” Boogaard said. “For me it doesn’t matter who is in charge, I just want to be involved and do my part to turn things around back there and hopefully have a few successful seasons.”
Goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, who spent the latter months of the A-League at relegated Serie B side Varese, has expressed his desire to stay in Europe, however with two goalkeeping slots available at Perth the Western Australian side could make a move for the free agent.
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Newcastle duo Scott Neville and Jacob Pepper rejected offers to re-sign, both opting to sign with Asian Champions the Western Sydney Wanderers.
The Jets return to training on June 22 but are as of yet without a manager. Adelaide City’s Damian Mori and Sydney United’s Mark Rudan are among the candidates likely to take over at the club.
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