The mass exodus at the Newcastle Jets has continued with local product Taylor Regan among those told his services will not be wanted for the 2015-16 season.
Regan, Sam Gallagher, Allan Welsh, Travis Cooper, James Virgili and reserve goalkeeper John Solari have also all been released while Edson Montano and Max Burgess are yet to learn their fate. The club’s youth player of the year, Nick Cowburn will not be offered a senior contract.
Head coach Phil Stubbins spoke of how hard it was to release the players.
“Today the coaching staff had to deliver some tough decisions to some great people. We certainly wish each of the guys that are leaving the club the very best in their respective futures.”
Regan spent five years at the club after making his debut in October 2010. He went on to play 68 matches and captained the side three times this season and on Sunday, was named the member’s player of the season.
This adds to the long list of players who have departed the club already this season including Andrew Hoole, Zenon Caravella and club legend Joel Griffiths.
In lighter news, Serbian Enver Alivodic is expected to sign a new two-year-deal with the club and Phil Stubbins has also showed interest in A-League trio Zachary Anderson, Jamie Maclaren and on-loan Sydney FC attacker Bernie Ibini.
Newcastle are also tipped to announce the signing of former Sydney FC youth defender Themba Muata-Marlow while the 26-year-old Regan has been linked with Tony Popovic’s Western Sydney Wanderers.
It was also reported in the Newcastle Herald that defender Scott Neville wants out of the final year of his contract and Mark Birighitti is unlikely to return to the club from his loan stint in Italy’s Serie B.
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Despite having an emphasis on having local players at the club, there are only five senior players contracted to the team, including Nigel Boogaard who will join the team from Adelaide United in the off-season.
The Jets finished with the dreaded wooden spoon this campaign but Stubbins said the club are working towards brining in quality players to make the team more competitive.
“We are well advanced with our plans to recruit some top quality players to join home grown products Ben Kennedy, Ben Kantarovski, Jacob Pepper and Boogaard in our pursuit to bring success to the Newcastle Jets.”
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