Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick has moved to crush claims that Mark Viduka is about to join the club.
Former Toon striker not on Melbourne's radar
Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick has moved to crush claims that Mark Viduka is about to join the club.
Former Newcastle striker Viduka is a free agent after being released by the Magpies during the summer and has yet to find another club.
Fulham and Portsmouth had shown an interest, but there is now speculation about a move back to his native land with hometown Melbourne thought to be his preferred destination.
However, Victory coach Merrick has all but ruled out a contract offer suggesting such claims are "extremely remote."
He insisted that club policies would not allow another star signing as Australia striker Archie Thompson currently operates in that role while the club's wage-cap restrictions would also provide a stumbling block.
Merrick said: "I would really like to set the record straight on Mark Viduka.
"Firstly, Mark has never said that he will play football in Australia and we have not said anything other than the same as any other A-League team would say - that he would be a great player to have in our team.
"Having said that, the opportunity to have Mark Viduka in our side is extremely remote given that we have a salary cap and given that we have a marquee player.
Happy
"Archie Thompson is committed to 2011. He is playing some of his best football. He has scored three goals in the last four games, so we are pretty happy where we are at.
"The rest is all media speculation. We don't comment on transfers and contracts. We are happy with the side we have got and Archie has been tremendous for us and will continue to be."
The possibility of a guest role at the club for Viduka has also been speculated in Australian press, however, Merrick believes such a cameo is unlikely to arise while also refusing to rule it out.
"It's never really been a policy. We have never felt the need to have someone in the short term," he added.
"If the need arose and the finances arose and the situation arose, then I think we would look at it the same as everyone else."
