This was published 7 years ago
Perth Glory denies A-League walk out of Socceroo Rhys Williams
Perth Glory have denied a report that Socceroo signing Rhys Williams is set to leave the club just 11 games into his A-League tenure.
On Monday afternoon, Fox Sports reported that the stuttering Glory - which dropped Williams for the visit of Sydney FC on Saturday - would let the home- town defender leave.
Glory has denied Rhys Williams has walked out of the club.Credit: Paul Kane
A Glory spokesman said the report was "pure speculation" and Williams was contracted for another 18 months.
"Rhys Williams is a contracted player and he's required at training," he said.
"The decision to leave him out of the squad for the visit of Sydney FC was a football decision and that's it."
The length of Williams' contract could be a key issue.
The club announced Williams had signed a one-year deal on his signing in April, but now insist he's signed up until mid-2018.
Under transfer regulations, clubs are allowed to approach rival players when their contracts have less than six months to run.
It's understood Sydney FC were under the impression that Williams fell into that basket of players when they made a formal approach to the 28-year-old prior to their 4-1 defeat of the Glory on the weekend.
Club chief executive Peter Filopoulous confirmed the Sky Blues approach was rebuffed.
"Sydney sent a letter but we promptly reminded them that Rhys has another year to run after this one and they've apologised for the oversight," Filopoulos told FourFourTwo.
"This time of the year players who have six months left (on their contracts), clubs are entitled to approach them.
"As a courtesy they write to the club involved to say they have intentions of speaking to their player.
"Those letters are flying all over the A-League at the moment. However in Rhys Williams scenario he's got another year to run beyond this one. It doesn't apply."
Williams has yet to hit any great footballing heights since moving back to Australia after an injury-ravaged decade in the United Kingdom.
At his peak five years ago, Williams was linked to English Premier League giants Liverpool on a multi-million pound deal.
But two major Achilles injuries and osteitis pubis sent Williams' career into a tailspin, and he was released by club Middlesbrough this year after 10 seasons of service.
In Perth, Williams has struggled to adapt to life in the A-League and was notably at fault for the round one capitulation to Central Coast, a match the Glory led 3-0 after 55 minutes but ended up drawing.
It remains to be seen whether any tension or issues between the club and player will result in the defender departing the club.
Williams last played for the Socceroos in 2013.
AAP