TerrigalUtd
Well-Known Member
Joel Set To Debut Against The Jets
EXCLUSIVE: Joel Griffiths is set to make his debut for Beijing Guoan against his old club Newcastle Jets in the Asian Champions League next month, thanks to a loophole in his contract.
The two clubs are pitted against each other in Group E of the prestigious competition which kicks off on March 10 when Beijing host the Jets in China.
And while Joel's contract bans the one-time Jets marquee star from playing for Beijing against Newcastle, it only applies to the HOME leg in Australia in May.
The option is open for him to play against his club when the two sides clash in China - and sources close to the player say Joel WILL play against Newcastle if he's selected.
The paperwork on the Griffiths deal was signed off in the last few days which will see the star join his brother Ryan at the club on a 10-month loan deal.
Joel's set to earn three times the salary playing for the Chinese Super League side compared to the wage he had lined up at Newcastle Jets as their marquee star.
The Jets have also earned a significant sum as a loan fee payment, understood to be equal to most A-League transfer fees.
But the package wasn't agreed without a fight. Negotiations are understood to have been protracted, with the Jets determined to hold onto their newly re-signed star.
His agent's company Entourage Management said it was the hardest bargaining they have ever been involved in.
Now though, Joel may never return to play for the Jets again. The player's camp is tipping him to either renew his loan deal at the end of the year or move permanently to Beijing on a transfer.
"It was too good an offer for him to refuse," said his agent Ante Alilovic of Entourage. "He's 29, he's got a kid on the way and he's not got too many big paydays left. He said he had to go and take it.
"Newcastle weren't willing to part with him though. It didn't actually look like the deal was going to go through. It was the hardest deal we've ever done."
Griffiths left for Beijing ten days ago but is already settling in well with pre-season training underway ahead of the club's next competitive game, the ACL tie with Newcastle Jets next month.
"He's going to be very comfortable there - Beijing's actually a very nice place," said Alilovic, who flew to China with Joel last week.
"His brother's there so they'll both be playing for the same team. He's going to be very happy there."
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/96609,joel-set-to-debut-against-the-jets.aspx
Snap!!! ;D
EXCLUSIVE: Joel Griffiths is set to make his debut for Beijing Guoan against his old club Newcastle Jets in the Asian Champions League next month, thanks to a loophole in his contract.
The two clubs are pitted against each other in Group E of the prestigious competition which kicks off on March 10 when Beijing host the Jets in China.
And while Joel's contract bans the one-time Jets marquee star from playing for Beijing against Newcastle, it only applies to the HOME leg in Australia in May.
The option is open for him to play against his club when the two sides clash in China - and sources close to the player say Joel WILL play against Newcastle if he's selected.
The paperwork on the Griffiths deal was signed off in the last few days which will see the star join his brother Ryan at the club on a 10-month loan deal.
Joel's set to earn three times the salary playing for the Chinese Super League side compared to the wage he had lined up at Newcastle Jets as their marquee star.
The Jets have also earned a significant sum as a loan fee payment, understood to be equal to most A-League transfer fees.
But the package wasn't agreed without a fight. Negotiations are understood to have been protracted, with the Jets determined to hold onto their newly re-signed star.
His agent's company Entourage Management said it was the hardest bargaining they have ever been involved in.
Now though, Joel may never return to play for the Jets again. The player's camp is tipping him to either renew his loan deal at the end of the year or move permanently to Beijing on a transfer.
"It was too good an offer for him to refuse," said his agent Ante Alilovic of Entourage. "He's 29, he's got a kid on the way and he's not got too many big paydays left. He said he had to go and take it.
"Newcastle weren't willing to part with him though. It didn't actually look like the deal was going to go through. It was the hardest deal we've ever done."
Griffiths left for Beijing ten days ago but is already settling in well with pre-season training underway ahead of the club's next competitive game, the ACL tie with Newcastle Jets next month.
"He's going to be very comfortable there - Beijing's actually a very nice place," said Alilovic, who flew to China with Joel last week.
"His brother's there so they'll both be playing for the same team. He's going to be very happy there."
http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/96609,joel-set-to-debut-against-the-jets.aspx
Snap!!! ;D
cheep plug 
