THE Newcastle Jets are reportedly close to signing Gold Coast tyro James Brown despite similarly enthusiastic attention from glamour clubs Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
Brown, who turns 22 on Sunday, is a free agent at season’s end and there is widespread speculation that uncertainty surrounding Gold Coast’s future will prompt him to leave his home-town club.
Even if Gold Coast owner Clive Palmer agrees to fund his cellar-dwelling team beyond this season, the billionaire appears intent on adhering to a policy of signing players only to one-year contracts.
Gold Coast players with bargaining power will no doubt be open to offers, and there was speculation yesterday that Brown was poised to accept a lucrative two-year deal with the Jets.
Brown’s Wikipedia page stated incorrectly that a deal with Newcastle had been ‘‘announced’’.
Jets chief executive Robbie Middleby said yesterday the club’s policy was not to comment on player negotiations until all details had been finalised.
‘‘Regardless of whether we are talking to a player or not, I can’t confirm anything until a deal is signed,’’ he said.
‘‘But with regards to James Brown, I know there are a lot of clubs keen on him. I’ve heard Sydney and Melbourne are very interested.’’
An Australian representative at under-17, under-20 and under-23 level, Brown grew up on the NSW-Queensland border and was the first player Gold Coast signed four years ago.
The attacking midfielder has played 36 A-League games and scored seven goals, the first of which came in a 2-0 win against Newcastle on January 13, 2010.
He also scored against the Jets in Gold Coast’s 3-1 win on October 30.
The Jets have a vacancy in their strike force, having recently released unwanted Chris Payne midway through a two-season deal.
A host of Newcastle forwards, including Michael Bridges, Francis Jeffers, Jeremy Brockie, Ryan Griffiths, Labinot Haliti and Ali Abbas, are coming off contract and it remains to be seen how many will be retained.
Jets coach Gary van Egmond has made it obvious he wants to recruit some younger legs, especially up front.
As well as Brown, the Jets have been linked in recent weeks to former Adelaide stars Nathan Burns and James Troisi and emerging Central Coast striker Bernie Ibini-Isei.
Burns left Greek club AEK Athens last month to sign for Korea’s Incheon United, and Troisi is expected to part company with his Turkish outfit, Kayserispor, to play in China.
Ibini-Isei signed a new deal with the Mariners two weeks ago.
Newcastle’s only confirmed import for next season is Adelaide’s back-up goalkeeper Mark Birighitti, who has signed a two-year deal.
Promising local juniors Taylor Regan and Jacob Pepper, who were already contracted to Newcastle next season, have had their tenures extended by an extra 12 months.
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