Jets call time on possible recruits
BY JAMES GARDINER
31/12/2008 4:00:00 AM
JETS coach Gary van Egmond had little doubt veteran defender Spencer Prior could have been a positive influence on his young squad, but in the end time was not on his or the struggling A-League champions' side.
Instead 16-year-old James Virgili has been plucked from youth league to ensure the Jets have 16 fit players for the away clash against Wellington on Sunday.
And there could be more youngsters getting a taste of the first-team action as the Jets limp towards the end of the season.
Prior, 37, and Dez Giraldi, 22, trained with the Jets yesterday with a view to playing out the rest of the A-League campaign and, depending on their performance, the Asian Champions League.
But it was clear after one training session that both players lacked the fitness to do an immediate job.
"We need people that are ready to go," van Egmond said.
"Both Spencer and Dez are underdone, and it would have taken a while for them to hit their straps.
"And rightly so. They are out of season. While ever the [state and A-Leagues] do not overlap we are going to encounter that.
"I think they could have done a reasonable job, but we don't have the time to persevere.
"Spencer was always only going to be a short-term thing. With Dez it was more with a look to the Asian Champions League. We had him earmarked as a replacement for Marko Jesic (knee), but the favourable diagnosis on him [Jesic] has shifted the goalposts."
Prior has not played since leaving English Championship club Southend United 18 month ago.
A veteran of more than 10 years in the English second tier, he started pre-season training last month with NSW Premier League club Manly, where he is an assistant coach to Phil Moss.
The former Norwich, Manchester City, Leicester City, Derby County, Cardiff City and Southend United defender spoke to The Herald before learning he would not be offered a contract.
"Playing is not my priority," the Fox Sports analyst said. "I am doing my A-Licence here now and I want to progress with the coaching."
Giraldi had a short stint at Sydney FC this season as an injury replacement for Brendon Santalab and played 38 minutes in three appearances off the bench.
Since then he has travelled to Germany but done very little in terms of training.
His chances of a contract were greatly reduced with news yesterday that Jesic was unlikely to require a knee reconstruction.
The teenager limped off early in the 2-1 loss to the Central Coast on Friday night and it was feared he would require reconstructive surgery for the third time in two years.
He will consult specialist Justin Roe on Monday, but the early prognosis is that he has torn cartilage and will be out for six weeks rather than six months.
Even still, the Jets are down to the bare bones.
Captain Jade North left for Korea on Sunday and James Holland will not be risked for the trip across the Tasman.
The Jets are waiting for paperwork to be finalised for his transfer to Dutch club AZ Alkmaar and do not want to jeopardise the move.
"From what I understand, AZ want him there by January 5," van Egmond said.
The Jets, last on 15 points, are out of the race for the A-League finals. Van Egmond has decided to use the final four games to give an opportunity to fringe players Sean Rooney, Kaz Patafta, Shaun Ontong and Antun Kovacic.
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