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In a bid to revive their faltering I-League campaign, Salgaocar have decided to release Australian striker Sean Rooney and are looking to sign a new foreign striker.
Rooney, who represented Australia in the 2009 U-20 World Cup and has played for Newcastle Jets in Australia’s A-League, joined Salgaocar in August, but managed to score just twice in nine I-League matches.
He had scored the equaliser in Salgaocar’s 1-2 defeat to Dempo last week, but that match will be his last in a Salgaocar shirt, as the club have decided to mutually terminate his contract.
2010-11 champions Salgaocar lie second from bottom in the I-League table with six points from nine matches, and the club management felt a change was necessary.
“We decided a change upfront was necessary and thought it was best to mutually agree on a release,” Salgaocar secretary R.A.J. Gomes told Sportskeeda.
Rooney is expected to be released on Monday when Salgaocar are also likely to announce his replacement.
The Australian was signed when Karim Bencherifa was in charge, and clearly new coach David Booth didn’t consider him part of his plans.
Salgaocar are also considering the position of Philippines international Angel Guirado, who is currently on international duty at the AFF Suzuki Cup, and hasn’t played enough in the I-League. Guirado is another signing of Bencherifa’s, and the club will have discussions with him once he returns to the club.
The Goan club thus will be without a foreign striker in Sunday’s must-win I-League clash against Pune FC in Margao.
STADIUM UPDATE
Gomes also added that the Goan clubs will continue to play their home matches at Margao’s Nehru Stadium until the first week of January, as the Tilak Maidan in Vasco won’t be ready before that.
“From what I know the Tilak Maidan will be ready by the first week of January. There will be new floodlights installed and the stadium will also have provision for live television coverage,” Gomes said.
