Taylor opens up on Wellington Phoenix exit
Steven Taylor wanted to retire in Wellington. He was happy here.
Taylor was appointed Wellington Phoenix captain ahead of the 2019-20 A-League season. He declared his intention was to see out his professional career in the capital and he signed a two-year extension on New Year’s Day.
‘‘I think everybody knew how comfortable and how happy I was in New Zealand. The season we had before Covid hit, everything was perfect,’’ Taylor told Stuff from his home in Newcastle, England.
On Monday, the Phoenix made the shock announcement that the 34-year-old had terminated his contract with immediate effect after guiding the club to its highestever A-League finish. So what changed? The former Newcastle United defender, who spent 10 years in the Premier League before joining the Phoenix, said he just wanted to play football and was sick of the uncertainty swirling around the A-League.
When will the new season begin? Where will the Phoenix play? Will they have to base themselves in Australia again? Taylor’s questions had gone unanswered, and he wanted out. Having already taken a significant pay cut to complete the season in a hub in New South Wales, Taylor called coach Ufuk Talay and asked to terminate his contract. It was a ‘‘difficult conversation’’ but he said Talay put himself in the player’s shoes and respected his decision. Taylor’s request for an early release was granted and a press release was written up and distributed to the media on Monday afternoon, announcing that the club’s inspirational leader was leaving.
‘‘Covid spoiled it,’’ Taylor said. ‘‘I absolutely loved it but Covid hasn’t helped and speaking to the gaffer, I just said to him that it’s a nightmare situation. If Covid hadn’t happened and all the [pay] cuts, I’d still be there now.
‘‘The uncertainty, and even now still things aren’t getting sorted out and it’s frustrating. I never thought this would happen.
‘‘At 34 I want to know that I can continue [playing], that I’ve got the security, but at the moment no-one is giving me answers. I’m asking when is the season going to start?
‘‘No-one was giving me answers, there was nobody who could tell me ‘this is what is happening’. I can’t waste time, I want to be playing and it’s as simple as that. I wish there wasn’t this uncertainty but unfortunately that’s all there is.
‘‘I honestly saw myself finishing my career there but how can I do that when I’m not guaranteed to be playing football?’’
A defender with steely determination, Taylor played 49 games for the Phoenix, helping the club reach the A-League finals series in back-to-back seasons.
He has been heavily linked with a move to Indian Super League outfit Odisha FC and said an announcement on his next destination would be announced in the coming days.