Shane Smeltz is set to join former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler at Perth Glory. Photo / Getty Images
All Whites striker Shane Smeltz is poised to form a goal-scoring partnership with former England international Robbie Fowler in the A-League after confirming a three-year deal with Perth Glory.
Smeltz had been linked with a move from Gold Coast United to Western Australia since January and yesterday the 29-year-old finally
announced the latest destination of a career that has also seen him spend unfulfilling spells in China and Turkey inside the past 12 months.
The former Wellington Phoenix favourite is the latest new player added to the Glory's roster as the club strives to improve on last season's lowly 10th placing in the 11-team league.
Smeltz joins the Glory as a marquee player on a deal said to be worth $1.6 million while Liverpool legend Fowler, who started his A-League career at North Queensland in 2009, is now classified as a local player under the competition's salary cap rules.
Although Fowler, 36, is yet to confirm his future, Glory owner Tony Sage claimed he had agreed to play on for another season.
Smeltz was twice welcomed back to Gold Coast United during the 2010-11 season after transfers to Shandong Luneng - the Chinese club he left before making an appearance - and Genclerbirligi proved unsuccessful.
However, United appear to have finally bade Smeltz farewell permanently.
"It's all about timing and I think Perth Glory is heading in the right direction," Smeltz said. "There's a fresh look about the club and it's something I want to be part of.
"I don't think one player is going to change everything but I think I can certainly help out," said Smeltz, who has scored 49 goals in the A-League since joining the Phoenix in 2007.
"Shane was my first priority, my first target because I knew we had to get a proven goal scorer and that's what we've done," said Perth Glory coach Ian Ferguson.
After returning from a six-game stint in Turkey towards the end of last season, Smeltz underlined his scoring prowess with nine goals in 12 appearances as Gold Coast advanced to the preliminary final.
Smeltz joins Travis Dodd, Dean Heffernan, former Phoenix goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and Evan Berger as new arrivals at the Glory for the 2011-12 season.
- NZPA
