Top flight still tempts Thwaite
GOLD Coast United recruit Michael Thwaite has not closed the door on an ALeague return, with the former Socceroos defender confident the club will not stand in his way if a suitable offer arrives.
Having left Western Sydney Wanderers in May, Thwaite, 35, turned down interest from two A-League clubs to last week sign on for United’s 2019 NPL campaign.
He has made no secret of the family issues that plagued his one-season stint at the Wanderers, where he would travel home to Burleigh from Sydney on his day off.
Thwaite sounded out Brisbane Roar coach John Aloisi about linking up with the three-time champions, but was told the club was not in the market for a centre back. However, with short-term injury replacement deals likely to pop up when the season begins next month, his topflight career may not be over.
“It’s something I spoke to Gold Coast about and they’re aware there might be injury replacements now that the season is starting up. If there’s an opportunity before the NPL season, I don’t think they’ll stand in my way and it’s something that I mentioned to them contractually as well,” Thwaite, capped 13 times by the Socceroos, said.
“Those two (A-League) opportunities that I had, it was more of a long-term thing and I just did that to my fam- ily with Western Sydney and it didn’t work out family-wise. I didn’t want to put them into that situation so the best opportunity is to be here and build the soccer community here and that’s why I signed with Gold Coast United.”
Having spent time training with the Knights since leaving Western Sydney, Thwaite also had the chance to link up with the club next season but said his heart drew him to United.
“I had the great opportunity to train at the Knights and their facility is very good, Grae (Piddick) is a great coach and they’ve got massive plans as well,” he said.