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Five players leave Glory

25 January 2007 | 13:54 - SBS

Perth Glory has released five players as it aims to build for next season.

 

Stuart Young, Mimi Saric, Luka Glavas, Mark Robertson and Adrian Webster have all been told they will not be offered contracts for next season, with Perth looking to put behind a disappointing seventh-placed finish in the A-League.

"Every one of these lads has given 100 percent commitment to Perth Glory this season and I thank them for their efforts on and off the field," Glory coach Ron Smith said.

"I have had to make some tough calls in what I believe will be in the best interests of Perth Glory and ensuring we're able to further strengthen our playing squad going forward."

Former Wollongong Wolves striker Young, 34, netted five times in the 2006/07 campaign after being largely overlooked by former Glory coach Steve McMahon last season.

"I made a commitment to give Stuart a chance after he was mostly overlooked last year and he didn't disappoint, making a significant contribution on and off the pitch," Smith said.

Glavas and Saric both found the net for Perth this season, but Robertson has struggled with injury.

The club says New Zealand international Webster has been released so it can keep two of its four foreign player positions 'available for future recruiting'.

"Adrian falls into the foreign player category because he was born in New Zealand," said Smith.

"His role in central midfield is a position where we currently have several options and in our process of rebuilding the squad we will need to find players that can give us cover in other areas which may include looking internationally."

Perth already has fellow Kiwis Leo Bertos and Jeremy Christie on its books.

The club also says its 'post-season assessment is continuing and decisions on the future of the remaining players coming out of contract will be made as the team takes shape in the coming months'.

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