David Carney tipped to leave Jets to return to Sydney
By JAMES GARDINER
Jan. 12, 2015, 10:30 p.m.
See your ad here
DESPITE assurances to the contrary, in-form Jets winger David Carney is in line for a return to Sydney FC.
The Herald understands that although a deal is yet to be completed, the way has been opened for Carney to rejoin the club he won a championship with in the inaugural season of the A-League.
Carney has been one of the few bright lights in a disastrous start to the campaign for the Jets.
The former Socceroo, who is contracted to the Jets until the end of next season, turned down an approach from the Sky Blues before Christmas.
However, the Herald has been told that circumstances have changed.
Carney’s relationship with Jets coach Phil Stubbins has at times been strained and he was disciplined by the club after swearing at a fan in an ugly exchange after the 3-1 loss to Wellington at home.
Sydney coach Graham Arnold, who had Carney under his care when assistant at the Socceroos, is keen to add a left-sided player to the roster to help make up for the loss of attackers Ali Abbas, Corey Gameiro and Nick Carle.
Sydney are in fifth place on 19 points, 11 points and four places above the Jets, and are on track to make the playoffs.
A source close to the negotiations said Carney was keen for a move to the lucrative Chinese Super League and believed a strong finish to the season with the Sky Blues could be the catalyst.
See your ad here
It is unclear if the Jets would seek a transfer fee for Carney.
Outgoing Jets chief executive Robbie Middleby said on Monday that the 31-year-old’s status with the club hadn’t changed.
‘‘David Carney is a contracted player at the Newcastle Jets,’’ Middleby said.
‘‘He wants to stay here and the Jets want him.’’
Carney’s partner, Emma Johnson, responded on Monday to the speculation on social media by posting ‘‘This is the first we have heard ...’’
As well as the likely departure of Carney,
the Jets have agreed to release out-of-favour defender Sam Gallaway from the final six months of his contract.
As revealed in the Herald in December, Gallaway will join Asian champions Western Sydney Wanderers, bringing an end to the Coffs Harbour product’s four-year tenure in Newcastle.
Gallaway’s exit is the Jets first action in the transfer window, which opened a week ago and closes on February 3.
The exit of Gallaway follows the termination in December of Northern Ireland international Jonny Steele, who has joined Minnesota United FC in the US second tier, and
leaves the Jets with two places available on their roster.
Owner Nathan Tinkler, in announcing this week that he had taken the club off the market and had assumed the role of chairman, indicated that the Jets would look to strengthen the struggling outfit.
‘‘We need to get back to proving we are a winning club and we are in the market during the window for possibly a couple of players,’’ Tinkler said.
The Jets have one visa spot available vacated by Steele.
Gallaway was one at the lower end of the wage scale, but if Carney exits it will open up room in the salary cap to bring in a quality addition. The Jets have been linked to a play for little-used Wanderers defender Daniel Mullen