Adelaide United has signed former Newcastle and Gold Coast player Adam Griffiths for its upcoming Asian Champions League campaign.
Coach Aurelio Vidmar says Griffiths, who has returned to Australia after a falling out with Saudi Arabian club Al Shabab, would be a valuable inclusion to the side.
“Adam is with us through the Asian Champions League and that’s going to be a real big positive for us and will also help with the stimulus and the mentality amongst the group in a healthy way,” Vidmar said.
“He’s a good passer, a good reader of the game and we can use him a variety of roles which is really important and we are really looking forward to Adam rolling up his sleeves and doing his very best for the club.”
The 30-year-old has only signed a short-term contract which covers the ACL but Vidmar is optimistic he can convince him to stay on for the 2010-11 Hyundai A-League season.
“Adam has got other ambitions but we believe it’s not out of the question that something might happen in the future,” he said.
Griffiths said he was looking forward to joining United’s midfield.
“That’s my preferred position, I like playing that position, working hard. The team hasn’t changed that much I don’t think from previous ACLs so realistically they just need to get some confidence and hopefully I can help add that to the team,” he said.
While keen to talk up Adelaide’s chances in Asia, Griffiths was reluctant to comment on why he left his Saudi Arabian club after less than a year.
“I don’t know, I’m still trying to work that one out,” he said.
“It was a good experience, cultural shock but it was something I wouldn’t change, it was fun.”
“The players all were really good to me over in Saudi Arabia, I respect their culture and their religion, it was just a little bit of a problems with the president I guess.”
Meanwhile the future of Brazilians Cristiano and Alemao isn’t looking as bright after Vidmar was non-committal on whether they were required players next season.
The duo themselves may be assessing their options after being overlooked for the Reds’ ACL squad.
“At this point those boys are out. Next week I could wake up out of bed, hit my head on the ground and decide I’ll put someone else in and take someone out and that’s the beauty of having that extra week or so to decide (on his final ACL squad),” Vidmar said.
“We still haven’t finalised our squad for next year and as I said last week I’m not talking about anyone’s contract until well after the ACL is finished. Up to this point there’s been a fair bit of disruption in terms of people coming, people going, people re-signing.”
