The exodus from Melbourne City continues, with overseas pair Richard van der Venne and Thomas Lam the most recent gamers to half methods with the shedding A-League grand finalists.
City, who have been thrashed 6-1 by Central Coast Mariners within the current decider regardless of dominating the common season for the third successive 12 months, face an low season of change as they appear to rebuild a decimated squad below coach Rado Vidosic.
Having already introduced the departures of midfielders Valon Berisha and Aiden O’Neill, goalkeepers Thomas Glover and Matthew Sutton, left-back Jordan Bos, attacker Raphael Borges Rodrigues and defender Kerrin Stokes, City have additionally misplaced the providers of van der Venne and Lam – regardless of them each having a 12 months of their contracts to run.
Dutch midfielder van der Venne’s household has discovered it tough to settle in Melbourne, whereas Netherlands-born Finland worldwide defender Lam additionally desires to return to Europe together with his pregnant associate.
“Thomas is a fantastic guy, and he did so well for us,” Vidosic stated.
“Richard’s wife was homesick and she didn’t want to stay here anymore.
“They both contributed really well for us. Richard was a bit injured and it cost him some game time but in the middle part of the season, he really showed Australia what he’s capable of doing.
“I think both of them wanted to stay because they enjoyed it enormously but it was a family decision more than their own decision.”
The City way forward for one other member of City’s overseas brigade, Frenchman Florin Berenguer, can be unsure
Vidosic is eager for the out-of-contract 34-year-old playmaker to signal a brand new deal however he’s but to present the membership reply.
“He needs to speak to his family because he’s been here for five years now” the City coach stated.
Marco Tilio’s City future can be unsure, with Vidosic saying a “lot” of abroad membership have been displaying curiosity within the Olyroos and Socceroos winger.
Regardless of what would transpire with Tilio and Berenguer, Vidosic envisaged City signing “eight or nine” new gamers forward of subsequent season.
Among the brand new faces on the membership shall be former Brisbane Roar and Western United keeper Jamie Young and ex-Newcastle Jets, Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix midfielder Steven Ugarkovic.
“It’s a fresh start for a lot of players,” he stated.
“It’s not going to be too hard to motivate the team for next season.
“When you bring some new foreigners in, they bring some new qualities. There are some Socceroos players we have that are staying, there are a few young boys that we are going to promote, so it’s going to be exciting, we’re going to have good depth and quality, and I’m quite positive that we are going to challenge for a spot in the top four next season.
“How far we can go, we’ll have to wait to see, but we’re going to make our supporters proud again.
“The way we lost the grand final is still hurting. We had one bad at the office. We had a lot of good days.”
Originally printed as Players proceed to depart Melbourne City following A-League grand last catastrophe
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
