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Cahill’s A-League prospects up to “big boss man” Gallop

Tim Cahill has reopened his stoush with Football Federation Australia (FFA), denying he’s been approached to play in the A-League and challenging “big boss man” David Gallop to make him an offer.

Jun 01, 2016, updated Jun 01, 2016
Socceroos star Tim Cahill. Photo: Lukas Coch, AAP.

Socceroos star Tim Cahill. Photo: Lukas Coch, AAP.

Cahill and FFA have long been at an impasse over the governing body’s attempts to bring the Socceroos’ most commercially valuable name to the domestic competition.

A war of words escalated in February following Cahill’s shock axing by Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua, after which FFA chief executive Gallop stated he and other parties had tried to sign Australia’s leading goal-scorer only to be told the A-League could not “meet his needs”.

It came directly after Cahill heavily criticised the A-League’s lack of “vision” he felt would hurt his career.

With his six-month contract at Hangzhou Greentown about to finish, the veteran striker is again pondering his future.

But while reports suggest Cahill is poised to re-sign with Hangzhou or shift to another club in China, the 36-year-old regurgitated a familiar refrain yesterday in Sydney.

“I’ve never closed the door on the A-League,” before the Socceroos’ two-match friendly series with Greece.

“The good thing is I knew I was going to be free going into the (transfer) window in July.

“It’s obvious that there never has been any contact with me.

“And (regarding) the stories before and statements made – I never had a phone call.

“But other than that, I’m very close with the A-League chairmen, I’m very close with a lot of people in the league, but I can’t press the button on anything.

“A lot of things are up in the air but I’ve just got to keep playing – that’s the main thing for me.

“I’ll look to see what happens for me, whether I stay in China or go somewhere else in the world.

“But overall, I think it’s going to be left down to the big boss man of the league to decide what he wants to do.”

Cahill is in Sydney for the two-match Greek series, to be played on Saturday at ANZ Stadium and next Tuesday at Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium.

He revealed he was carrying a “slight” hamstring issue but hoped he’d be fit for selection in coach Ange Postecoglou’s line-up.

-AAP

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