Our very first transfer saga. YAY!

Hartlepool's 1 year extension now means Joel Porter is under contract for 1 more year. He can no longer leave under a free transfer unless the club release him. The problem is apparently the guy has sold his house and made it clear he wants to leave. The Phoenix really cant afford to pay the transfer fee as all A-League teams operate under a salary cap, which includes transfer fees, and we are still in the market for another midfielder and 2 strikers (1 if we sign Porter) according to nix boss Pignata.

That leaves Hartlepool with a striker on their books, who they have effectively handcuffed to the club. They will have to sell him on to another club regardless, even if it isn't the Phoenix, as a disgruntled player is never the best idea for most changing rooms.

The English PFA have been contacted to help resolve the issue as the Nix claim to have agreed a three year deal before the contract extension was announced.

It will be at least a couple of days (if not weeks) before we here anything more from the Nix or Hartlepool, but I'm sure that every party to this deal wants it ended sooner rather than later.

 till next time

Just a small update, apparently Plan "A" still has some legs. Porter hasn't made any comments about the 1 year extension, and Tony Pignata of the Phoenix has stated "The Fat Lady has not sung yet on the Joel Porter transfer" .

Tony P is eloquent as ever.

All I can conclude at this stage is the speculation is more interesting than the actual end result.

till next time.

Well it actually didn't take that long to solve the Porter problem. Hartlepool released its retained player list, Porter's name was on it and the club used an option in his contract to extend it. I think everyone is a little disappointed that this is the way it ended, but at least we can look forward to speculating over exactly who Plan "B" is.

Andy Cole's name has been bandied about in the pub and he has been released from Sunderland. Stranger things have happened, like Dwight Yorke coming down under. Something to think about?

Till next time