Post by Macmoish on Oct 3, 2011 6:03:31 GMT
To be honest, I didn't realize he had been in Greece!
Four Four Two Australia
Wellington Phoenix Bring Back Nick Ward
By Aidan Ormond
ATTACKING midfielder Nick Ward will be back at Wellington Phoenix after a spell in Greece with crisis club Iraklis.
It's been confirmed that the 26-year-old former Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory and QPR man will leave the Greek club and join up with Wellington - the A-League club he played for last season.
Iraklis have been in crisis recently after being found guilty of forgery during the winter transfer window. The club were stripped of their professional licence and were demoted to the semi-professional Delta Ethniki league.
Phoenix play Gold Coast United this weekend on the Glitter Strip but are unlikely to rush the talented Ward back into the side. It's believed the player arrives in Wellington today.
Wellington still have at least one more spot to fill on their roster now the former A-League's Rising Star Award-winner has returned to the Phoenix fold.
Ward's signing brings the Phoenix squad to 19 and coach Ricki Herbert must add an under-21 player to fulfil A-League minimum squad-size requirements, but it is believed there could yet be more before the transfer window closes.
Ward, 26, made 24 appearances for Phoenix last season but after seeing out his contract he left to explore opportunities in Europe.
Herbert said Ward was again a Phoenix player.
"He's a player I know, he's worked with the club, he knows the culture, he knows the team, he played a lot for us last year," Herbert said. "I would have loved to have kept him but we knew he wanted to explore Asian or European opportunities again. But it's panned out that we can get him back, which is good."
The Phoenix kick off their season on Sunday, against Gold Coast United, at Skilled Park but it appears unlikely Ward will be rushed into the starting lineup.
Herbert said he would "hopefully" join the team in Wellington today.
"We know his character, we know what his strengths and weaknesses are so we'll just bed him in slowly through the week and see where he's at," said Herbert.
"Physically, he might need a little bit of work but he's a good boy, he's a good player. I think it's a good signal for the club too, a player like that, he's been at Melbourne Victory, he's been at some decent sort of clubs and he's very, very keen to be back."
Herbert hoped to confirm the identity of the 20th player by tomorrow and was encouraged by yesterday's solid 4-0 preseason win against Team Wellington at Wellington's Dave Farrington Park.
New recruit Dani Sanchez scored two goals, the first, a good strike in the top-right corner after a clever layoff from Chris Greenacre and the second, a stunning direct volley from a Leo Bertos corner.
"That's why we brought him to the club," Herbert said. "I truly believe he is quality and we've just been patient with him. He missed a little bit of work when he was injured but he's such a dedicated boy, you know. I think he'll be great for the club."
Sanchez appears set to start against Gold Coast in an attacking midfield role, with Manny Muscat likely at right back as Jimmy Downey manages a groin niggle.
au.fourfourtwo.com/news/219129,wellington-phoenix-bring-back-nick-ward.aspx
Four Four Two Australia
Wellington Phoenix Bring Back Nick Ward
By Aidan Ormond
ATTACKING midfielder Nick Ward will be back at Wellington Phoenix after a spell in Greece with crisis club Iraklis.
It's been confirmed that the 26-year-old former Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory and QPR man will leave the Greek club and join up with Wellington - the A-League club he played for last season.
Iraklis have been in crisis recently after being found guilty of forgery during the winter transfer window. The club were stripped of their professional licence and were demoted to the semi-professional Delta Ethniki league.
Phoenix play Gold Coast United this weekend on the Glitter Strip but are unlikely to rush the talented Ward back into the side. It's believed the player arrives in Wellington today.
Wellington still have at least one more spot to fill on their roster now the former A-League's Rising Star Award-winner has returned to the Phoenix fold.
Ward's signing brings the Phoenix squad to 19 and coach Ricki Herbert must add an under-21 player to fulfil A-League minimum squad-size requirements, but it is believed there could yet be more before the transfer window closes.
Ward, 26, made 24 appearances for Phoenix last season but after seeing out his contract he left to explore opportunities in Europe.
Herbert said Ward was again a Phoenix player.
"He's a player I know, he's worked with the club, he knows the culture, he knows the team, he played a lot for us last year," Herbert said. "I would have loved to have kept him but we knew he wanted to explore Asian or European opportunities again. But it's panned out that we can get him back, which is good."
The Phoenix kick off their season on Sunday, against Gold Coast United, at Skilled Park but it appears unlikely Ward will be rushed into the starting lineup.
Herbert said he would "hopefully" join the team in Wellington today.
"We know his character, we know what his strengths and weaknesses are so we'll just bed him in slowly through the week and see where he's at," said Herbert.
"Physically, he might need a little bit of work but he's a good boy, he's a good player. I think it's a good signal for the club too, a player like that, he's been at Melbourne Victory, he's been at some decent sort of clubs and he's very, very keen to be back."
Herbert hoped to confirm the identity of the 20th player by tomorrow and was encouraged by yesterday's solid 4-0 preseason win against Team Wellington at Wellington's Dave Farrington Park.
New recruit Dani Sanchez scored two goals, the first, a good strike in the top-right corner after a clever layoff from Chris Greenacre and the second, a stunning direct volley from a Leo Bertos corner.
"That's why we brought him to the club," Herbert said. "I truly believe he is quality and we've just been patient with him. He missed a little bit of work when he was injured but he's such a dedicated boy, you know. I think he'll be great for the club."
Sanchez appears set to start against Gold Coast in an attacking midfield role, with Manny Muscat likely at right back as Jimmy Downey manages a groin niggle.
au.fourfourtwo.com/news/219129,wellington-phoenix-bring-back-nick-ward.aspx