Out-of-contract All Whites defender Callan Elliot says he’s got no club lined up following the breakdown in his negotiations for a new deal with the Wellington Phoenix.
Elliot (23) says he wanted to stay at the Phoenix and he was surprised when the club withdrew its offer of a new contract.
Speaking on Jason Pine’s Weekend Sport show on NewstalkZB, Elliot said talks broke down over a buy-out clause in the draft agreement.
The clause specified the amount another club would need to pay the Phoenix to get his release from the contract.
Elliot said he thought the buy-out figure was too high and it might hinder his dream of one day landing a club in Europe, and he rejected the clause.
“The club wouldn’t budge,” he told Pine.
Elliot said he loved the club and its fans and wanted to stay, having played in 25 of the side’s 27 games last season, and getting his first All Whites call-up.
“If we negotiated right, 100 per cent I would have liked to stay,” he said.
Elliot said he had no alternative club lined up but would take a holiday with his girlfriend and then consider his future.
He was disappointed to leave the club with a poor performance in the A-League Elimination Final, a game that had caused him not to sleep for four nights after the loss to Adelaide United.
READ MORE: All White Callan Elliot among group of players to leave Wellington Phoenix >>>>
Listen to Jason Pine’s interview
Elliot was interviewed for 12 minutes during the show. Here’s the full interview:
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