Central Coast Mariners striker Matt Simon has announced he will quit the club next week to join Korean K-League club Chunnam Dragons.
In a significant blow to the A-League leaders, Simon has decided to try his luck in Asia and has signed a three-year deal with Chunnam.
The in-form striker will play in the Mariners home game against Gold Coast on Saturday and then the one with Melbourne Victory on January 4 before flying out for Korea.
While disappointed to be leaving his hometown club, who are favourites for this season s title, Simon said the opportunity to play abroad was too good to turn down.
It has always been a goal of mine to play overseas and this is an opportunity for me to take the next step in my career, Simon said.
I ve had a lot of great memories at the Mariners. I ve loved playing for the club and I ve loved playing for the fans.
Since the start of the A-League the fans have been great to me and I can t thank them enough. Hopefully I ll get to play for them again when my time overseas comes to an end.
Simon, an East Gosford junior, joined the Mariners in 2006 and has gone on to become one of the best strikers in the A-League.
His form was rewarded with a spot in the Olyroos squad for the 2008 Beijing Olympics before making two appearances for the Socceroos in 2009.
I m forever grateful to Lawrie McKinna and the Mariners for giving me the chance to make it as a professional footballer, Simon said.
Thankfully the club was able to get Arnie (Graham Arnold) in to replace Lawrie when he moved into a different role. He knows how each player ticks individually and he s improved me not only as a player but mentally as well.
Definitely my highlight was winning the Premiership with the boys in season three, but also last season. We didn t go all the way but we did tremendously and it was fantastic to be a part of.
Arnold concedes the loss of Simon is a blow for his side but the Mariners boss is confident he has the depth to cover Simon s absence.
It s a great reward for a great bloke, a great clubman and a fantastic footballer for the Mariners, Arnold said.
It s the A-League, these things happen where players leave mid-term. But it won t be too much of a distraction because we ve got a lot of depth and it opens up a great opportunity for other players to step up to the mark, he said.
