STRIKER HEADING HOME

FORMER Ireland international striker Simon Cox has quit Western Sydney Wanderers to be reunited with his young family in the UK.

Cox, 34, elected to stay in Australia earlier this season while his England-based partner Samantha gave birth to the couple’s first child, Ella-Rae, in February.

However, having described the decision as the

“hardest of my life”, Cox has now elected to return to his family with immediate effect.

“It’s time for me to go home,” the former Southend United, Reading, Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion marksman said.

“I thought we would be able to get to the end of the season but that is now not possible. The last few weeks have been really tough.”