Football: No midfield replacement for Finkler, says Kalezic

Coach Darije Kalezic of the Phoenix. Photo / Getty Images

Decisions on a replacement for Phoenix marquee midfielder Gui Finkler will have to wait a week, as coach Darije Kalezic turns his focus to Wellington's next match in Perth.

Bottom of the A-League ladder, Wellington battled out a dour scoreless draw with Brisbane Roar on Saturday night, their first point on Australian soil since early April.

It was also their first clean sheet of the season, a source of some satisfaction to Kalezic after his team had leaked 20 goals in their eight previous matches.

"I'm a coach who likes good and solid organisation," he said. "We struggle a lot because of many reasons to create that until now, after all those games, days, weeks and months."

The draw comes just one day after Finkler ended his two-year contract with the Phoenix six months early by mutual agreement.

Finkler's tenure had been in doubt after Kalezic suspended him for disciplinary reasons following a petulant reaction to his 55th-minute substitution in Wellington's 4-1 loss to Central Coast two weeks ago.

His departure leaves the Phoenix with options in the January transfer window, although it appears unlikely Kalezic will be looking for a midfield replacement for the Brazilian.

"In that position, we have a couple of players — Dario Vidosic, Michael McGlinchey — so hopefully we can spend that spot for some other position we think the team needs more at this moment," Kalezic said.

"There are two positions, and we have to decide very soon which of those two we want to replace."

Kalezic didn't elaborate further, saying his focus was now on next Sunday's match in Perth, where Wellington will be boosted by the return of injured striker Roy Krishna.

"I haven't spoken with the club, I was concentrating this week on the game we played [on Saturday], and I think our focus has to be on the next game in Perth. When we fly back, we have all the time to sit with the board and make decisions."

- NZN