Phoenix sign young Australian defender

The Wellington Phoenix have signed 21-year-old central defender Dylan Fox from NSW NPL champions Bonnyrigg White Eagles.

Fox has been trialling with the Phoenix for the past 10 days and head coach Ernie Merrick saw enough during that time to offer him a two-year contract.

“For a 21-year-old Dylan impressed me as a very mature centre back type of player,” Merrick said.

“He is 186cm tall, fast, technically good and knows how to tackle.

“Bonnyrigg coach Brian ‘bomber’ Brown recommended him to me and while trialling with us Dylan improved every day.

“He demonstrated to me that he would be a very good back up for Dura and Siggy.

“For a big lad he is surprisingly quick and will have no problem adjusting to the demands of the A-League.”

Fox, who played his junior football with the Sutherland Sharks before having two seasons at Bonnyrigg described the move as a dream come true.

 “I was on holiday in Melbourne with my girlfriend Sophie when I got the call offering me a trial,” Fox said.

“It took me by surprise and I was a bit nervous when I got to Wellington, but I needn’t have worried as the Phoenix boys were really welcoming.”

Asked how he saw his job as a central defender Fox said he liked to “keep it simple and just do my job”.