ROBBIE FOWLER will be Sydney FC's new marquee player. Three years after he almost joined the Sky Blues before his wife, Kerrie, decided she wasn't ready to live in Australia, the former Liverpool legend will finally get his wish to live in the Harbour City. Fowler, 34, has become available in the wake of North Queensland Fury's recent near-death experience, with the Townsville club no longer in a position to meet his wages, believed to be about $750,000 per season.
But while the Fury have been saved by Football Federation Australia's intervention, the A-League is still set to lose a club, with Gold Coast United backer, mining magnate Clive Palmer, officially withdrawing his support this week. Unlike in Townsville, the FFA has little interest in mounting a rescue operation, with the competition now likely to remain a 10-team league with newcomers Melbourne Heart effectively taking the place of Gold Coast United next season.
Sydney FC yesterday officially approached Fowler to replace John Aloisi as their new marquee player. Currently in England, where he has been attending coaching courses, Fowler last week made it clear he wanted to keep playing in the A-League regardless of the outcome of his situation with North Queensland Fury.
''I loved it there, it was brilliant,'' he told the Herald. ''It wasn't just Townsville, it was Australia.'' In the past two days, Fowler has been talking with the Fury through newly-appointed football director Robbie Middleby, having indicated at one stage his interest in becoming player-coach following the departure of Ian Ferguson to Perth Glory. But that scenario has effectively been ruled out by the FFA, who at the moment are the Fury's majority owners, and Fowler is now set to accept Sydney FC's offer.
When Fowler came to town last season, the Sky Blues drew their second-biggest home crowd, with most of the pre-game promotion driven through the local branch of the Liverpool Supporter's Club. Sydney FC officials have made no secret of their focus of improving attendances, and Fowler's proven popularity has prompted their offer.
Fowler had been targeted initially by Newcastle Jets, but owner Con Constantine said yesterday: ''We've moved on from the marquee idea, we tried it three times and for whatever reason it didn't happen. We've decided to leave well alone.''
Fowler will be the biggest-name departure from North Queensland as the FFA deals with the fallout of the recent crisis, but he won't be the only one. The Fury officially had 17 players contracted for next season, but the change of ownership has left them free to negotiate elsewhere. Defender Chris Tadrosse is believed to have accepted an offer from Melbourne Heart, midfielder Michael Marrone has rejected terms, and defender Scott Wilson is set to return to Scotland.
It is understood goalkeeper Paul Henderson and defender Jacob Timpano have been released, and a further nine players have agreed terms without signing, among them David Williams and Dyron Daal.
