RYAN Griffiths said he would have returned to the Newcastle Jets for “nearly nothing” but was never approached by the A-League club.
The 34-year-old winger made his debut at the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic on Tuesday at the Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, alongside brother and former Jets star Joel.
Griffiths will join Hong Kong Premier League club South China AA in the January transfer window, from Malaysia’s Sarawak, but was candid about where his preference lay.
“I wanted to come back and play for the Jets if there was an opportunity, and there was, but I didn’t get offered anything,” Griffiths said. “That was a little disappointing. It would have been nice even if they couldn’t fit me in the budget, if they said, ‘We’re thinking of you.’”
That opportunity was the season-ending knee injury to striker Labinot Haliti in round two against Sydney FC. The Jets, who already have three 30-plus players in their forward line, eventually signed 21-year-old attacking midfielder Ryan Kitto as an injury-waiver replacement.
Griffiths played the last of his 56 A-League games for the Jets in 2013 before he joined China’s Beijing Baxy.
The following year he spent an unhappy four-game stint at Adelaide United before moving to Malaysia.
He said the Adelaide experience had taught him he was passionate only about the Jets.
“I got offers from other clubs, but I don’t want to play for them,” he said.
“It’s Newcastle or nothing in the A-League. I’d rather be overseas.”
Griffiths has never met first-year Jets coach Scott Miller but is optimistic about the direction of the club.
“Things are starting to get better, and I hope they get it right,” he said. “I’m a supporter and watch games online. I want them to be successful. I know how big they can be in the Hunter.”