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Goalkeeper Mark Paston and midfielder Tim Brown are the first All Whites to sign with A-League franchise Wellington Phoenix - but they will not be joined by international teammate Noah Hickey.
Hickey is due to hold a press conference today to announce his footballing future but Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert yesterday confirmed the player will not be joining the new Wellington club. "He was offered a contract but turned it down."
That is likely to leave Paston as one of a very few New Zealanders at the club to have played for the NZ Knights.
Herbert said Hickey's decision would have no impact on the player's international career and he will be travelling with the All Whites to Europe.
Three Australians, including former Knights midfielder Richard Johnson, were among the first signings announced yesterday. Johnson, 33, and former Adelaide United captain Ross Aloisi, 34, have signed one-year deals. They will be joined by Michael Ferrante, 26. He played a handful of games for champions Melbourne Victory last season and has, like Brown, 26, and Paston, 30, penned an initial two-year agreement.
