Wellington Phoenix have signed Tom Doyle on a two-year contract after the 22-year-old impressed in a recent trial with the club.
The left fullback made a solid debut for the Phoenix against West Ham United in last week’s Football United tour and backed it up with another strong performance against Newcastle United just three days later.
“Hearing I was getting a contract was a massive relief and now I have to go for it and show the coach he has made the right decision,” Doyle said.
“Since I was a five-year-old I’ve wanted to be a professional footballer because it is the best job in the world.”
Doyle was previously part of the Phoenix’s centre of excellence but admits he didn’t grasp the opportunity at the time.
“Perhaps we were given too much when we went into that environment and were training with the first team every day,” he said.
“Some of the boys, notably Tyler (Boyd) and Louis (Fenton) were able to cope but I didn’t.”
The Phoenix have struggled to fill the left fullback position since the departure of Tony Lochhead and Doyle said he was focused on making the most of his opportunity this time around.
“I was gutted when I was released from the FSE and was determined it wouldn’t happen a second time,” he said.
“The hard work begins now,” he said.
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