Jan. 16, 2013, 7:20 p.m.
VETERAN central defender Tiago was officially jettisoned and exciting home-grown right back Andrew Hoole was handed his first professional contract yesterday in a busy day of negotiations for the Jets.
Brazilian Tiago passed a Sydney FC medical with flying colours yesterday and is expected to be available for the Sky Blues in Saturday’s match against Wellington at Allianz Stadium as an injury replacement for Dutchman Pascal Bosschaart.
After joining the Jets as a Branko Culina recruit before the 2011-12 season, Tiago began this A-League campaign as a first-choice centre back.
But he has swiftly plummeted down the pecking order and has not played since the 3-0 loss to Perth on December 14.
Jets chief executive Robbie Middleby said last night that Tiago no longer featured in coach Gary van Egmond’s plans and the club believed Sydney offered the feisty 31-year-old a career lifeline.
‘‘We have young Taylor Regan, Connor Chapman coming through and Josh Mitchell on our books, so we’ve got quite a lot of defenders there,’’ Middleby said.
‘‘The thing with Tiago, we were honest with him and spoke last week that it’s going to be difficult. He’s got a young family across the other side of the world and in football things can always change around, so it’s difficult with the players in front.
‘‘I got approached by Sydney and we think the world of him and we’re so happy he’s got the opportunity to show what he can do and potentially prolong his career here in Australia.’’
While Tiago’s career in Newcastle has ended, right back Hoole’s is taking off.
The 19-year-old former Broadmeadow Magic striker has re-signed for next season, four days after he made an impressive A-League debut in the 1-0 victory over Brisbane at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.
Middleby said the new senior contract was thoroughly deserved.
‘‘The kid made an absolutely outstanding debut,’’ he said. ‘‘For me to have a Newcastle boy sign up for us and come through the system here in Newcastle, and credit goes to Broadmeadow Magic, it’s fabulous for the game in our region.
‘‘He’s very, very versatile, and I’ve had a lot of people say to me that his debut last week was great and I think he’s only going to get better and stronger for us.’’
Meanwhile, Sydney FC recruit Joel Griffiths says the two weeks he’s spent waiting for the A-League’s contentious transfer window to open could be a blessing in disguise.
Most leagues open their mid-season transfer windows on January 1, but the A-League’s is delayed until January 14. Griffiths, 33, finished up with Chinese giants Shanghai Shenhua in December and has watched the past two Sydney games from the sidelines.
Griffiths, a former A-League player of the year with the Jets, will make his Sydney debut against last-placed Wellington at home on Saturday.
‘‘Honestly, it might have been a blessing in disguise after the Christmas period where you eat and drink the wrong food for a sportsman,’’ Griffiths said. ‘‘But I’ve trimmed myself down now and I’m in good shape so I’m ready to go.’’ with AAP
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