Ernie Merrick has announced his first signing as coach of Newcastle Jets, securing veteran keeper Glen Moss from Wellington Phoenix on a one-year deal.
Moss spent time playing under Merrick at both Melbourne Victory (2009/10) and Wellington Phoenix (2013/16) and will provide competition for incumbent shot-stopper Jack Duncan.
Earlier in the day, Wellington confirmed that Moss would be leaving the club following 140 appearances across two spells in New Zealand.
As well as featuring for Victory and Phoenix, Moss can count games for both New Zealand Knights and Gold Coast United among the impressive 204 Hyundai A-League appearances that he has made since the competition kicked off in 2005.
The 34-year-old made his New Zealand national team debut in a 1-0 win over Malaysia in 2006, and some 11 years on is still involved with the All Whites.
Moss – who played three matches at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and was a squad member at the 2010 FIFA World Cup – was in the squad for his nation as recently as March as the All Whites defeated Fiji both home and away in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying.
A busy few months awaits the former Dinamo Bucharest shot-stopper – as well as moving to Australia to join the Jets Moss is odds on to be en route to Russia to represent New Zealand at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup.
Moss said he is excited by the challenges that await him for both Club and country.
“I am rapt to be coming to the Jets,” Moss, who will go into camp with the All Whites in Auckland next week, said.
“It’s a Club that I have always thought quite highly of and always had good battles with in the past when I was with Wellington.”
“I have been at Wellington for five years so changing environments and moving to a Club that will not accept anything less than top results and playing finals football next year is something that has got me naturally excited.”
“After the Confederations Cup in Russia I will come back and get straight into it with the Jets. I find that it’s really good to have these tournaments in the off-season because it keeps me ticking over. I will be able to hit the ground running with the Jets from day one,” he said.
New Newcastle coach Merrick believes Moss’s qualities and character will benefit the squad.
“I have coached Glen at two Clubs – Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix – and have found him to be the consummate professional,” Merrick said.
“Glen is extremely capable both technically and physically, and he is a first class character.
“He brings a wealth of Hyundai A-League and international experience to the Jets and we are very fortunate to have his signature,” he concluded.
