North Queensland Fury striker David Williams is hoping his loan stint to play with Sydney FC in the upcoming Asian Champions League will put him in the shop window for a ‘dream’ move back overseas.
Williams had his first training session with the Sky Blues on Tuesday since signing a six-month deal with the club which takes in the group stage of their ACL campaign which begins next week.
The 22-year-old said he was delighted to pass up an off-season break to immediately start a new challenge with Sydney after what’s been a hugely disappointing campaign with the Townsville club.
The Fury’s future for next season still remains very much unclear with reports the club is up to $2 million short of the funds it needs to guarantee its spot for 2011/12.
While Williams, who is the only player contracted to the Fury for next season, said he remains committed to the long-term future of the club, he admits he has a strong desire to move to a big overseas club especially if North Queensland fold.
And the former Roar striker knows some impressive performances for the Sky Blues in the ACL will go a long way to making that happen.
“For me it’s all up in the air at the moment and I’ve got to weigh it all up,” Williams said of his future on Tuesday.
“I’m not making a decision on that (my future) now, I’m just trying to think what I have to do in next couple of months here and the next couple of games.”
“But hopefully (the ACL) opens some doors for me. It will be a good experience for me and maybe create something I hope.”
“Every young Australian footballer aspires to get overseas. The pinnacle isn’t in Australia it’s in the top leagues.”
“To get overseas would be another dream come true and I’m still working towards that.”
Williams has played abroad before, spending four years at Danish Club Brondby from 2006-10, before returning to be part of the Fury’s inaugural season.
He was one of the rare bright spots for the Fury this season scoring five goals, prompting the Sky Blues to sign him as a replacement for the departing Alex Brosque for the ACL campaign.
“We’re different players in some sense but we have one goal which is to go forward and attack,” Williams said of replacing Brosque.
“Hopefully I can fit into the starting line-up. I’m getting a long well already and the boys been have been fantastic.”
“Sydney has had a great run in the last eight games in the season and taking that form into the ACL will be excellent.”
Meanwhile Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka will have to finalise his final squad for the ACL later on Tuesday, with one unlucky visa player needing to be left out.
ACL rules only allow each club to have three foreign players and one Asian player in their final 30-man squad’s for the tournament, with out-of-contract Korean defender Sung Hwan Byun already left out.
With Japanese midfielder Hiro Moriyasu taking the Asian spot, Lavicka will have to cut one of Brazilian Bruno Cazarine, Finn Juho Makela, Northern Ireland’s Terry McFlynn and Swiss Stephan Keller.
“It’s a cruel situation. Byun did great two seasons for us. He’s professional. Nice boy. But his contract is not re-signed for next season. He’s upset of course but he understands football,” Lavicka said.
“But now we have to cut one more visa player. We have six players with visas in this moment in the squad.”
“So we have to cut a bit. It is cruel for the players but that-s football. I hope players who are not selected be professional and understand.”
It’s understood Makela, who was brought in specifically for the ACL, is guaranteed a spot, as well as Brazilian Cazarine who had an outstanding debut season in the A-League.
With Wellington defender Andrew Durante signed and Perth back Jamie Coyne still being chased by the club, it would appear Keller is the likely one to miss out. The Sky Blues will name their final squad later on Tuesday.
In other news at the club, former Socceroo Hayden Foxe has announced his retirement from the sport.
Foxe, who had a decorated career in leagues in Japan (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Holland (Ajax), and England (West Ham, Portsmouth and Leeds), informed his team-mates at training on Monday.
The 33-year-old made 15 appearances for the Socceroos and plans to take a break from the game but has aspirations to be a professional coach in the future.
