KEY POINTS:
Wellington Phoenix star striker Shane Smeltz says a return "home" was the key reason for signing with expansion A-League soccer club Gold Coast United from next year.
Smeltz, who has scored 15 goals in 28 A-League games, has signed for three years with the new Australian club and
will lead their strike force in their inaugural season next year.
The German-born New Zealand international forward grew up on the Gold Coast and turned out for the Brisbane Strikers in the old National Soccer League prior to heading first to Adelaide then overseas.
"I was brought up on the Gold Coast and it's always been one of the places I have called home," he said in a statement.
"I have a wife and two young daughters and we're all looking forward to beginning a new phase in our lives.
"I think it's clear that Gold Coast United are ambitious and intend to be a successful club and I'm looking forward to being part of that success in the future."
Smeltz, 27, wanted to pay tribute to the Phoenix and in particular coach Ricki Herbert.
"Wellington Phoenix have always treated me well and it is important to me that I am fair to the club and end all the recent speculation," he said.
"They need to look to the future as do I and I wanted to be straight about the situation.
"I've had a great time in Wellington and want to thank them for the way they have treated me and helped my career.
"This was a tough decision to make for all of those reasons, but I feel this move is the right one for me at this stage of my career."
Smeltz, who was voted the New Zealand Player of the Year in 2007 ahead of English Premier League defender Ryan Nelson, was a popular figure with the Wellington supporters.
He assured them he would be focussed on scoring as many goals as possible for the club through the second half of the current season.
United coach Miron Bleiberg declared his delight at securing the goalscoring services of Smeltz.
"We couldn't be happier that Shane has decided to join us as I'm sure he was on the radar of a number of other clubs," Bleiberg said.
"As a new entrant in the competition it's vital that we are strong in our first season and to do that we have to have proven strikers.
"In Shane Smeltz that's exactly what we are getting - a player who has scored regularly in this league and is always a threat to any defence.
Smeltz is the second major signing for Gold Coast United, who recently announced former Juventus goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan as their inaugural custodian.
- NZPA
