Newcastle Jets can today detail a number of squad changes ahead of the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 season.
Defender Taylor Regan, utilities James Virgili and Sam Gallagher, and goalkeeper John Solari have been informed that they will not be re-signed by the Club for next campaign.
26-year-old Regan has played his entire professional career with the Jets having formerly skippered the Club’s Foxtel National Youth League team. Regan played 68 times for Newcastle in the Hyundai A-League.
22-year-old Virgili has spent a long period at the Club. Indeed, when he made his Jets debut against Wellington Phoenix in 2009 he was the Hyundai A-League’s youngest ever player. He made 57 Hyundai A-League appearances for Newcastle.
Gallagher, 23, joined the Jets ahead of the 2014/15 campaign from Vietnamese side Hanoi T&T. He made a total of 19 appearances for the Club throughout Hyundai A-League season ten.
21-year-old Solari linked with the Jets in 2013 from South Australian Premier League outfit White City. While he never appeared for the Club in the Hyundai A-League, Solari featured regularly for Newcastle’s Foxtel National Youth League side and provided dependable back up to Ben Kennedy and Mark Birighitti during his time in the Hunter.
Newcastle Jets can also disclose that Allan Welsh (16 appearances this season) and Travis Cooper (two appearances this season) have been informed that at this point they will not be re-signed by the Club. Jets management may seek to re-engage with Welsh, Cooper, or both, depending on various factors.
Utility Nick Cowburn (10 appearances this season) has been offered a youth deal. The Club is committed to retaining the Toronto junior.
“We’d love Nick Cowburn to stay at the club however with Scott Neville and Jacob Pepper contracted and able to fulfil the right back role, at this point we need to work within our salary cap and squad size parameters,” Newcastle Jets Head Coach Phil Stubbins explained. “We will remain in open dialogue with Nick.”
Max Burgess (five appearances this season) remains in discussions with the Club.
Ecuadorian attacker Edson Montaño remains under consideration by Club management. Montaño was on-loan to the Jets throughout the 2014/15 season from SC Barcelona in his homeland. Discussions with his loan club and local agent will transpire in due course.
Stubbins added: “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.”
“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 the returning Nigel Boogaard in our pursuit to bring success to the Newcastle Jets.”
The Club is in negotiations with Enver Alivodić to retain his services.
