Jets skipper Ruben Zadkovich ​poised for Perth move


By JAMES GARDINER
May 27, 2014, 10 p.m.

NEWCASTLE Jets captain Ruben Zadkovich is close to finalising a move to A-League rivals Perth.

Zadkovich, 28, has a year to run on his contract in Newcastle, but sources have told the Newcastle Herald that the Jets have agreed to release the feisty midfielder.

The Perth deal is for two years with a year option and could be completed as early as today.

Zadkovich has called Newcastle home for the past four years. He met his fiancee in the city and took great pride in wearing the Jets armband.

However, the security of potentially an extra two years beyond his Jets contract was enough to lure the Bulli-bred enforcer out west.

Glory signed Brisbane defensive midfielder Diogo Ferreira yesterday but consider Zadkovich a like-for-like replacement for retired skipper Jacob Burns.

Burns, 36, was one of eight players released by Glory coach Kenny Lowe, who was given the job full-time last month.

Apart from Ferreira, Lowe has brought striker Dino Djulbic back from Abu Dhabi and recruited Youssouf Hersi from Western Sydney Wanderers.

Zadkovich’s imminent departure will free up about $220,000 a year in the Jets’ salary cap.

He was close to joining English Championship club Millwall at the start of last season, but the clubs could not agree on a transfer fee. Instead, he stayed in the Hunter and was the only Jet to play in all 27 games.

Midfield is one area where the Jets have depth.

Josh Brillante, Ben Kantarovski and Zenon Caravella were used in tandem with Zadkovich last campaign. Jacob Pepper is also adept in the centre of the park and Young Socceroo Mitch Oxborrow is expected to push for a regular spot this season.

Zadkovich joined the Jets from then English Championship club Derby County in 2010 and was made captain in February 2013 after the mid-season release of Jobe Wheelhouse.

He won the club’s Ray Baartz Medal that year and earned a Socceroos recall for the East Asian Cup.

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/23...h-move/?cs=303
Can't see any dramas with zads leaving gives Stubbins more cap and more squad space to work with, be interesting to see who the new captain is.