Belgian striker Stein Huysegems says he has no hard feelings the way things have turned out with Wellington Phoenix but hopes to remain in the Hyundai A-League next season.
Belgian striker Stein Huysegems says he has no hard feelings the way things have turned out with Wellington Phoenix but hopes to remain in the Hyundai A-League next season.
It was confirmed on Sunday Huysegems would not going to be re-signed by the Kiwi club, bringing an end to a successful two-year stint at Phoenix for the Belgian international.
While Huysegems was hoping to remain in New Zealand for a further two years, Phoenix officials were only offering a one-year contract meaning an agreement couldn’t be reached.
“I had two good years over here. I was really keen to stay but we couldn’t come out of negotiations and we have to look forward now,” Huysegems told www.footballaustralia.com.au from Wellington on Sunday.
“I had to make a decision then and hopefully I now can sign somewhere for two years. That would be a good thing.
“I’m talking a bit with other clubs in the A-League and hopefully something good can come out of that.
“I really love the A-League. I think it’s a good league and it would be nice to stay over here.
“If there is nothing then you have to look to Europe or something else but I would love to stay in the A-League. We’ll have to wait and see.”
The 31-year-old is confident he still has a few good seasons in him and can offer something to A-League clubs.
Huysegems demonstrated his finishing talents this season, finishing as the Phoenix’s top scorer with 10 goals, in a side that struggled for much of the campaign
“I think I can be quite happy with my season. We played a different style of football this year under Ernie (Merrick) and it was a little bit more attacking and that’s what I like,” he said.
“I got good service from the boys behind me which is always important for a striker. If they play a lot of balls every game you are going to get a lot of chances to score.
“It was a good way of playing this year and I really enjoyed it even though as a team it was too much up and down.
“Even in first 10 games when we didn’t have a win, we were playing good football. Then we had a good run about eight games where we won six of them.
“But the last five or six games we couldn’t be happy. That wasn-t the style we wanted to play and it wasn’t good enough.”
Huysegems said he believes the Phoenix can definitely challenge for the A-League finals next season if they can make a few new signings and have a full pre-season together as a squad.