Perth defender Andy Todd concedes he will probably finish his illustrious career in Australia after he and fellow UK import Steven McGarry signed contract extensions with the Glory on Monday.
Having played in Perth this season, former Blackburn captain Todd has signed a one-year extension, while McGarry has signed on for an extra two seasons after his arrival in January proved influential to the Glory’s late-season run to the finals.
At 35 years, though, Todd is well aware his career that’s included stints at Middlesbrough, Bolton, Charlton, Derby and Rovers, could wind up in the somewhat unfamiliar surrounds of Western Australia.
However this doesn’t faze the unflappable defender, who is the favourite to take out the club’s Most Glorious Player award this season.
“I’ve enjoyed it from day one,” said Todd.
“To stay in Australia, I wasn’t going to move the family again, so I was very, very keen to stay here.”
“There’s no other interest,” he added when asked if rival Hyundai A-League clubs had come knocking.
“I was only solely interested in staying at Perth anyway … I’ve really enjoyed my time here and yeah, the football’s gone okay as well.”
“(So) you know I’m 35, maybe just one year, possibly two years and yeah I think I’m looking to finish my career out here.”
Having arrived in Perth from the depths of a brutal Scottish winter, McGarry was also keen to stay on at the club after settling in particularly well with the playing group and adapting to team structures.
“I’m delighted to be part of it for the next two years,” McGarry said.
“I came here in January, probably at a time the team was needing a little injection, myself and big Dan (Daniel Mcbreen) came in and I thought we brought something different to the team and probably they were needing it.”
“We went on a good run got ourselves into the finals which was the main aim, but massively disappointed we didn’t continue further in the competition,” he said, referring to Perth minor semi final loss to Wellington on penalties.
“But that’s something the boys have now experienced, we want to experience it more, we’ve got the hunger for it and lets hope next season we can build on that and I want to be part of that.”
