Patience appears to have paid off for the Wellington Phoenix who are expected to announce the signing of Socceroo Ahmad Elrich this afternoon.
Elrich, 26, is set to join the A-League club as early as next week after accepting an offer from Phoenix owner Terry Serepisos to crossthe Tasman as a marquee player.
It appears struggling Sydney FC were keen to lure Sydney-born Elrich to the club but as they signed Brazilian Juninho as their marquee player before the season kicked-off there was no room under the salary cap to add Elrich to their squad even if some funds could be freed up if American import Mike Enfield is, as feared, sidelined for the rest of the season through injury.
Elrich, an attacking right-side midfielder, said since being released from the last of his three-year contract with English Premier club Fulham, he considered offers from the Phoenix and Hyundai A-League pace-setters Central Coast Mariners.
"They are keen to have me there [Wellington]," said Elrich. "The coach [Ricki Herbert] is also the New Zealand national team coach and to play under someone like him will be a real benefit."
Born of Lebanese parents, Elrich played for Australia at the 2004 Athens Olympics and in 2005 came off the bench to score the crucial goal in the Socceroos' 2-1 win over Iraq.
It is understood Elrich, who has also played club football in South Korea, met Serepisos last Thursday - the day before the Phoenix scored their breakthrough 2-1 win over Sydney.
The club have scheduled a media conference for noon today. His first game could be as early as Sunday week - at home to Perth Glory.
