Sydney FC stalwart Terry McFlynn has urged his off-contract team-mates to follow his lead and recommit to the club as a matter of urgency.
McFlynn, one of only three remaining foundation players for the Sky Blues alongside skipper Steve Corica and custodian Clint Bolton, inked a new three-year deal on Wednesday.
While the 28-year-old Northern Irishman’s decision to re-sign is a major boost for the competition front runners, a host of key players – John Aloisi, Stephan Keller, Karol Kisel, Simon Colosimo, Stuart Musialik, Bolton and Corica – are all unsigned beyond this season.
And the in-form midfielder wants urgent action from all parties.
“We’re getting things together now on the park and I think it’s important to keep the squad together,” McFlynn said.
“You just have to watch us train to see that everyone gets along with everyone, we’re really best friends on and off the park and I think that shows in how we play.”
“We’ll go that extra yard for each other and it’d be great if we can keep the whole squad together.”
While keen to keep the bulk of his squad intact, Coach Vitezslav Lavicka was typically coy when asked if more re-signings are imminent.
“It’s hard to say in this moment, it’s a process,” Lavicka said.
“I’m happy in this moment that Terry has re-signed and I think we will continue (to secure players over) the next few weeks and months.”
McFlynn says it was always his preference to stay with Sydney FC but admits the promising start to coach Lavicka’s reign made his decision even easier.
“When you’re top of the league it’s easy to make those decisions but just in the overall picture for the club and where it’s going at the minute, the future looks really good for Sydney FC,” he said.
“And it’s something that I want to be part of and I’m thankful to the club and to the manager and to the board for giving me an opportunity.”
Asked to account for the Sky Blues’ turnaround after a disappointing 2008/09 campaign, McFlynn explained: “I think there’s just a bit more stability now. Obviously on the pitch we’re a lot more structured now … and we’ve got more direction in where we’re going and I think it shows in our performances.”
Meanwhile, the Sky Blues head into Saturday’s blockbuster clash against an out-of-sorts Gold Coast United full of confidence having won three of their last four fixtures.
But McFlynn insists complacency won’t be an issue against Miron Bleiberg’s men.
“We approach every game the same every week, we know every opposition’s strong and they’ve got their strong points and their key players so we approach the game as we do in any other week,” he said.
“We lost when we went there the last time (in Round 5) and there’s things we can improve on and we’ll be working on that this week.”
