Football: Jeremy Brockie's departure imminent

Jeremy Brockie. Photo / Getty Images

Jeremy Brockie seems all but set to leave the Wellington Phoenix after the club released a brief statement this afternoon saying he has been granted permission to converse with another team.

"The Wellington Phoenix Football club can confirm it has given striker Jeremy Brockie permission to speak to an overseas club," the statement read.

"The Wellington Phoenix will be making no further comment on the matter at this stage."
Radio Sport reported this morning that Brockie had flown to South Africa for a medical examination with an undisclosed team in the Republic and his signing could be confirmed this week.

The Phoenix would probably be unwilling to release Brockie until after they play Brisbane on January 4, two days before the A-League transfer window opens.

This would allow them to cover for potential injuries in the next five weeks, while also seeking a possible replacement to come on-board when the transfer window opens.

In any case, Brockie, who arrived in Wellington ahead of the 2012-2013 season on a three-year contract, couldn't play for his new club until the African transfer window opens on January 1.

Brockie will fly straight from South Africa to Newcastle ahead of the Phoenix's round nine A-League clash with the Jets on Saturday evening.

The Nelson-born striker has scored 21 goals in 53 games for the Phoenix, with 16 of those goals coming in his first season with the club, when he was named the Player's Player of the Year under old coach Ricki Herbert.

The Herald understands that Brockie has been pondering a move for a while now - he is rumoured to have had offers from clubs in Asia - given he has struggled to fit in to coach Ernie Merrick's system.

Brockie was an unused substitute during Wellington's 5-1 win over Melbourne City in the capital on Sunday and he has been surpassed in the club's strike force pecking order by Fijian international Roy Krishna.

Brockie has also made more than 40 appearances for the All Whites and was in New Zealand's squad for the 2010 World Cup.