Maclaren in legal bid to quit Glory
Young striker Jamie Maclaren has lodged a formal breach-of-contract notice against Perth Glory as he seeks to leave the embattled A-League club.
The 21-year-old submitted the notice to the Professional Footballers’ Australia union on Thursday in the latest fallout for Glory following their ban from this season’s finals series due to salary-cap breaches.
Maclaren has elected to pursue the legal avenue to quit the club as Perth’s back-up goal keeper Jack Duncan officially signed a two-year deal to join Danish outfit Randers FC.
Duncan, 22, will fly to Denmark early next month to complete a medical with the club before joining the start of the European pre-season in July. He has earned the opportunity after impressing during a fortnight’s trial with Randers in January.
The loss of the Australian under-23 player could leave Glory with a massive hole to fill in front of goal given the uncertain future of first-choice keeper Danny Vukovic.
Vukovic is understood to be disgruntled at the club’s handling of the salary-cap scandal and has been targeted by rival A-League franchises in the Eastern States.
Maclaren finished the season as Glory’s second-highest scorer with nine goals despite starting in just seven of his 20 matches.
The Weekend West understands the player has lost faith in his ability to gain regular starting opportunities at Glory under coach Kenny Lowe while Irish striker Andy Keogh remains at the club.
The PFA previously flagged it would provide advice to Glory players about their right to terminate contracts after the club exceeded the salary cap by about $400,000 this season.
Maclaren’s manager Paddy Dominguez said it was an unfortunate situation.
“It’s not a situation that Jamie Maclaren has instigated,” Dominguez said.
“Literally, the player has been left with no choice whatsoever by the people who run Perth Glory but to have to take this course of action.”
A Glory spokesman said the club had responded to Maclaren’s notice.
“Maclaren is still viewed as a very important player for the club going into next season,” the spokesman said.
Glory had meanwhile received up to 60 applications for the club’s vacant chief executive position by yesterday’s deadline.
Candidates to replace Jason Brewer feature those with AFL, cricket and Asian Cup experience. A short list will be drawn up from next week.
