Adelaide United coach Rini Coolen conceded captain Travis Dodd could be on his way to Perth at the end of the season with reports on Tuesday in Adelaide’s daily newspaper, The Advertiser, suggesting Dodd has already signed a three-year deal with the Glory.
Coolen denied Dodd had put pen to paper on a move to the West with the Dutchman admitting he had been reassured by the skipper no deal had been made.
One of only three remaining members of Adelaide United’s inaugural squad, along with vice-captain Lucas Pantelis and Robert Cornthwaite, Dodd’s contract with the Reds expires in June.
“Let’s see what happens in a couple of days,” Coolen said on Tuesday.
“I asked Travis this morning about the situation what I read in the newspaper about his new club but he didn’t sign a contract. Let’s see how it goes and what happens.”
Coolen said United have thrown everything at the skipper in a bid to keep him at the club but admitted Dodd, who has played more games and scored more goals than any other Reds player, has already rejected two offers from Adelaide.
“Until this moment we’ve done everything, I think more than everything to keep him here,” he said.
“We’ve had a lot of good conversations about that but the player decides yes or no if he wants to stay. It’s his decision and we have to respect that as well.”
“I actually don’t know (what he will do). He’s our captain and we started our talks with him a couple of months ago, and we did it also a couple of weeks ago.”
Reds midfielders Adam Hughes and Paul Reid are reportedly being targeted by Gold Coast United after Adelaide secured GCU midfielder Zenon Caravella for next season.
Coolen appears confident the pair will remain with the club, saying the speculation of a move to the Gold Coast is just that.
“There are a lot of rumours about players, that’s also what happens,” he said.
“I think the way we talk with our players, we have good contact. If something happens like that, they’re definitely going to tell us first and they haven’t told us yet so we don’t have to be scared.”
With United slipping to third ahead of their clash against North Queensland Fury on Friday, Germany-bound Matthew Leckie could be set to make his return after four months on the sidelines.
Coolen said Leckie’s impressive form in training could see the Young Socceroo in line for a recall while guest-player Andy Slory may make his long awaited debut after injury delayed his maiden appearance.
The Dutchman hinted he is likely to pick either Slory or Leckie, not both, with the pair still not 100 percent while stopper Nigel Boogaard is also tipped to come back into the squad after a groin injury.
“(Leckie) is a possibility to be in the squad against Fury,” he said.
“Everything seems pretty good to be honest. He feels fine. One thing isn’t easy for me and that’s the rule of three players on the bench, knowing that one of them, Slory or Leckie they are not 100 percent fit.”
“Hopefully, at least one of them is in the squad so we can use them as a substitute. Nigel had a good training session today so more than likely he will be in the squad.”
