Marcos Flores has revealed he was on the brink of retirement after being released from the Central Coast Mariners at the end of last season.
The Argentinian play-maker was not given a new contract at the Gosford side after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, a situation which saw him return to his homeland to weigh up his next move.
Appearing on SBS2 TV show Extra Time with Lucy Zelic and David Zdrilic , Flores said Phil Moss’ decision to cut him loose was the catalyst for one the most difficult periods of his professional life.
“The decision of Phil Moss to let me go when I was injured put me in the worst time of my career,” Flores said.
“(After suffering such a big injury) you don’t know where to go. I packed my suitcase with six months of rehab ahead.
“When I packed my suitcase, I flew to Argentina. I was working really without an agent or any person to protect me and I was thinking ‘It was my time to retire.'”
Flores made headlines in the lead up to last weekend’s F3 Derby between the Mariners and his new side the Newcastle Jets, with the 28-year-old slamming his former team for failing to support him after his injury.
While admitting he was wrong to speak out in such a manner, Flores refused to apologise to Moss, saying it was the coach’s decision to let him go even though he was happy with life on the Central Coast and was fully prepared to sign a new contract.
“I think I made a mistake last week to speak about the lack of support from Mariners. I wasn’t talking about the fans of the Mariners, I wasn’t talking about the physios, I wasn’t talking about my team-mates. He (Moss) knew I was talking about him because we had spoke on the phone,” Flores said.
“I was ready to sign (another contract), the money wasn’t an issue, the team harmony wasn’t an issue either. I was ready to sign (but) things change.
“Phil Moss made the decision (to not give me a new contract). He wanted me out of the club when I was injured.”
Just when it looked like Flores’ time in the professional game was coming to a premature end, the Newcastle Jets came calling and the former Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory man grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Flores said he couldn’t be more grateful for the new lease on life the Jets have offered him, and is hopeful he can put the Mariners’ controversy to one side as he looks to help his new club to their second A-League title.
“The words I have for the Newcastle Jets are massive. I want to say in a statement today in front of a camera, the Newcastle Jets showed me faith that is the same I got in the first day I played football in Unión de Santa Fe in Argentina, when I was 18 years old,” Flores said.
“(I’m) full of faith, full of energy. I want to help each team-mate I have. I want to help us believe that we are capable of fighting in the competition. That is my goal.
“I want to end this situation with the Mariners because I respect every person in the Mariners.”
