Out of favour Anthony Proia, 18, may have to walk away from Brisbane Roar after the club brought in rival striker Julius Davies (inset). Pictures: Stuart Quinn Source: The Courier-Mail
TEENAGE striker Anthony Proia has been all but told he has no future in Brisbane despite being under contract with the club until the end of the 2013-14 season.
Proia, 18, was brought to Brisbane by former coach Ange Postecoglou in February last year and was earmarked as a huge part of the club's future but has not seen so much as a minute of A-League action.
"It's not just about today, it's about tomorrow," Postecoglou said at the time.
After Postecoglou's move to Melbourne Victory less than three months later, Proia has had little support from the club's coaching staff.
It is understood Postecoglou's successor Rado Vidosic was not as big a fan of Proia's talents, and the man who deposed the beleaguered Vidosic last month, Mike Mulvey, seems to have a similar opinion of the Sydney product.
"If he can find another club, we won't be standing in his way," Mulvey said last night. "We had a chat and he's a little bit homesick as well."
An anxious Proia discussed his future with Mulvey and Roar general manager Sean Dobson after yesterday's training session.
The out-of-favour forward saw the writing on the wall at the Roar after the club's decision to add attacking weapon Julius Davies to their roster on Wednesday.
Surplus to requirements at Melbourne Victory, Davies was unveiled as a Brisbane player less than 24 hours after the club announced the signing of Socceroos defender Jade North from Japanese club Consadole Sappora, with both players managed by Buddy Farah.
The signing of Davies is understood to have shocked some Roar players, particularly after the club on Tuesday allowed attacking midfielder Rocky Visconte to join Western Sydney Wanderers.
Visconte's departure has also had an effect on Proia, as the pair are good friends.
Mulvey said the Roar would honour Proia's contract if the former Australian Institute of Sport marksman could not find a new club.
While Proia seemingly has some long-term security if he cannot secure a deal elsewhere, Luke Brattan, James Meyer and George Lambadaridis are coming off contract and are playing for their futures.
"There's a few of them that have been told ... 'you've got a great opportunity, make sure you grab it with both hands'," Dobson said.
With Erik Paartalu still waiting for his move to a Chinese Super League club to be finalised, there is a good chance the midfielder will line up for the Roar against Newcastle Jets at Hunter Stadium tomorrow night.
As reported by The Courier-Mail on Monday, the Jets lost out in their bid to snare Roar youth team skipper Corey Brown, despite the Australian under-20 fullback having initially agreed to terms with Newcastle.
The Roar yesterday announced that Brown had signed a two-year senior deal to stay in Brisbane.
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