Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell has hosed down speculation Qantas Socceroos’ defender Chris Coyne has already signed for the club, saying he’s still waiting for Coyne’s decision.
Media reports have suggested 30-year-old Colchester United captain Coyne has agreed to a three-year deal at Members Equity Stadium, but Mitchell said this wasn’t the case.
“(There’s) a bit of speculation going about but we’ve put a good offer in and we’re waiting to hear what the answer is,” Mitchell said on Wednesday morning in a joint press conference with Wolverhampton manager Mick McCarthy, ahead of the two clubs’ pre-season friendly.
“Hopefully it’s enough.”
“There is a feeling that he wants to come back to Australia but again he’s got quite a few offers and he’s just weighing them up, so we’re just waiting to hear really.”
Mitchell said if Coyne opted to return to Australia, it was more than likely he’d play at the Glory with younger brother Jamie, rather than go to another Hyundai A-League club.
“I think if he comes back to Australia, he’ll come to Perth,” Mitchell said.
“He does want to come to Perth but he does have to look at the situation, the big picture financially.”
“It’s been tight getting him in the salary cap but if he does come, he’s taken a significant cut in his wages first year.”
“(So) we’ve put our offer to him and we’re just waiting to see.”
Coyne has two seasons remaining on his contract at Colchester but was previously told by manager Phil Lambert he was free to explore other options. However a Perth Glory spokesperson suggested Colchester may be having a change of heart on letting him go, making it more difficult for Coyne to make any decision.
If Coyne does sign with Perth, he’ll join fellow Qantas Socceroos Mile Sterjovski and Jacob Burns in the squad.
Coyne’s signature would also cap off a remarkable pre-season recruiting drive for the club and Mitchell, as the Glory have also acquired former Blackburn Rovers’ skipper Andy Todd from Derby County and Bundesliga striker Branko Jelic from Energie Cottbus.
