Huysegems on A-League radar after split with ‘Nix

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.