Yorke to leave Sydney FC
August 31, 2006 SYDNEY FC has lost its skipper, with reports confirming Dwight Yorke has signed with second tier English club Sunderland.
Yorke missed the glamour A-League club's flight to Melbourne this morning amid speculation he was set to announce a return to English football.
Sydney chief executive Tim Parker had earler confirmed the club was speaking to the English Championship outfit about a transfer deal. The the European transfer window closes tomorrow morning (AEST).
Yorke's former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane took over as manager of struggling Sunderland this week, and reportedly offered the Trinidad and Tobago captain a $600,000 pay rise, lifting his salary to $1.5 million a season.
Southern Cross radio reported Yorke was not on Sydney FC's flight when it departed this morning for Mebvourne where the club plays the Victory in an A-League match on Saturday night
Dwight Yorke
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Sydney FC names Yorke despite transfer talk
Thursday, 31 August, 2006 - 4:02PM
Sydney FC Captain Dwight Yorke has been named in Sydney FC’s squad for Saturday night’s clash with Melbourne Victory despite speculation he could leave the Hyundai A-League Champions for a return to England.
Yorke has been named in Sydney FC’s 16-man squad for the blockbuster at Telstra Dome and will travel to Melbourne on Friday morning, if he remains a Sydney FC player beyond the closure of the transfer window (9am Friday Sydney time).
Yorke has been the target of a move by English Championship side Sunderland with Sydney FC and the recently relegated Sunderland locked in transfer talks.
Regardless of the outcome, Yorke has been named and will lead the side onto Telstra Dome for the historic clash should his career continue in Australia.
“Dwight (Yorke) is in the squad, “said Sydney FC Coach Terry Butcher. “At this point in time Dwight is a Sydney FC player and until that situation changes, if indeed it does, then he is one of the first players named.
“He made a successful comeback against the Central Coast Mariners last weekend and we have planned around having him in the side to take on Melbourne.â€
Thursday, 31 August, 2006 - 4:02PM
Sydney FC Captain Dwight Yorke has been named in Sydney FC’s squad for Saturday night’s clash with Melbourne Victory despite speculation he could leave the Hyundai A-League Champions for a return to England.
Yorke has been named in Sydney FC’s 16-man squad for the blockbuster at Telstra Dome and will travel to Melbourne on Friday morning, if he remains a Sydney FC player beyond the closure of the transfer window (9am Friday Sydney time).
Yorke has been the target of a move by English Championship side Sunderland with Sydney FC and the recently relegated Sunderland locked in transfer talks.
Regardless of the outcome, Yorke has been named and will lead the side onto Telstra Dome for the historic clash should his career continue in Australia.
“Dwight (Yorke) is in the squad, “said Sydney FC Coach Terry Butcher. “At this point in time Dwight is a Sydney FC player and until that situation changes, if indeed it does, then he is one of the first players named.
“He made a successful comeback against the Central Coast Mariners last weekend and we have planned around having him in the side to take on Melbourne.â€
Sydney FC will look to recruit another marquee player if, as expected, the A-League's biggest star Dwight Yorke joins English club Sunderland.
With the English transfer window closing at 9am Friday (AEST), the two clubs are busy thrashing out the details of the prospective deal.
Sunderland has reportedly offered Yorke a $600,000 pay rise, taking his annual salary to $1.5 million.
Yorke remained in Sydney while his teammates flew to Melbourne to prepare for Saturday night's big clash with the Victory.
Sunderland has chased hard for the 34-year-old Yorke since his former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane took over as manager of the English championship team earlier this week.
"I think he's looking to prove himself on the top stage," Sydney FC coach Terry Butcher said.
"Sunderland are not in the premiership now but they have ambitions to go back up.
" ... Until the two clubs can come to an agreement or it's not resolved we just have to progress.
"The players know that if Dwight does go he would be a huge loss to the club and to the A-League.
"But if he's here he would still be a big plus for everybody as well."
Yorke captained Sydney FC to the inaugural A-League title last season and also led Trinidad and Tobago to the World Cup finals in Germany.
If the transfer falls through, Yorke will fly to Melbourne to link up with his Sydney FC teammates.
But the likelihood is that he will head back to England.
"Dwight has been phenomenal for us and for the A-League and also for himself," said Butcher.
"And what it does show as well is that players that come over to Australia from different parts of the world can have success - particularly Dwight.
"He got himself back into the international fold and captained his country at the World Cup by playing A League football for Sydney.
"I think that sends out a strong message."
Were Yorke to quit the A-League, Sydney FC would seek dispensation from Football Federation Australia to replace him with another marquee player.
"There's not many marquee players going around at this stage of the season - they've normally been snapped up or they've got other plans," said Butcher.
"... there are some good players out there, there are players that we wouldn't take as well.
"You have to be careful.
"But we want a marquee player, we've gone down that route and we've enjoyed it.
"Dwight has been phenomenal for us."
As a manager, Butcher has some experience losing his big-name player at short notice.
Three years ago, Scottish international James McFadden left Butcher's club Motherwell at the end of the August transfer window to join English giant Everton for STG1.25 million ($A3.13 million).
"We didn't have time to replace him," said Butcher.
"He was a Scotland international, he went to Everton in a big money move and that helped us come out of administration."
Butcher said Sydney FC would find it easier covering for Yorke in the short term as he had spent little time with the club during the pre-season.
With the English transfer window closing at 9am Friday (AEST), the two clubs are busy thrashing out the details of the prospective deal.
Sunderland has reportedly offered Yorke a $600,000 pay rise, taking his annual salary to $1.5 million.
Yorke remained in Sydney while his teammates flew to Melbourne to prepare for Saturday night's big clash with the Victory.
Sunderland has chased hard for the 34-year-old Yorke since his former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane took over as manager of the English championship team earlier this week.
"I think he's looking to prove himself on the top stage," Sydney FC coach Terry Butcher said.
"Sunderland are not in the premiership now but they have ambitions to go back up.
" ... Until the two clubs can come to an agreement or it's not resolved we just have to progress.
"The players know that if Dwight does go he would be a huge loss to the club and to the A-League.
"But if he's here he would still be a big plus for everybody as well."
Yorke captained Sydney FC to the inaugural A-League title last season and also led Trinidad and Tobago to the World Cup finals in Germany.
If the transfer falls through, Yorke will fly to Melbourne to link up with his Sydney FC teammates.
But the likelihood is that he will head back to England.
"Dwight has been phenomenal for us and for the A-League and also for himself," said Butcher.
"And what it does show as well is that players that come over to Australia from different parts of the world can have success - particularly Dwight.
"He got himself back into the international fold and captained his country at the World Cup by playing A League football for Sydney.
"I think that sends out a strong message."
Were Yorke to quit the A-League, Sydney FC would seek dispensation from Football Federation Australia to replace him with another marquee player.
"There's not many marquee players going around at this stage of the season - they've normally been snapped up or they've got other plans," said Butcher.
"... there are some good players out there, there are players that we wouldn't take as well.
"You have to be careful.
"But we want a marquee player, we've gone down that route and we've enjoyed it.
"Dwight has been phenomenal for us."
As a manager, Butcher has some experience losing his big-name player at short notice.
Three years ago, Scottish international James McFadden left Butcher's club Motherwell at the end of the August transfer window to join English giant Everton for STG1.25 million ($A3.13 million).
"We didn't have time to replace him," said Butcher.
"He was a Scotland international, he went to Everton in a big money move and that helped us come out of administration."
Butcher said Sydney FC would find it easier covering for Yorke in the short term as he had spent little time with the club during the pre-season.