KEY POINTS:
Australian midfielder Troy Hearfield has been granted a release by the Newcastle Jets and will join Wellington Phoenix for the next two A-League soccer seasons.
Hearfield, 20, had been embroiled in a contract dispute with Newcastle, with the case set to be heard by a Football Federation Australia tribunal.
However, Newcastle have now granted Hearfield a release with one year left on his contract, clearing the way for him to join Wellington.
"Troy made it clear that he wanted to play for the Phoenix and the club really wanted him here in Wellington," Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata said today.
"Troy just wants to put what happened behind him and concentrate on playing football."
The signing of Hearfield completes the trio of under-21 players required on the Phoenix roster, with Costa Barbarouses and Greg Draper other young players on the club's books.
Hearfield is a member of the Australian under-23 squad who have qualified for the Olympic Games in Beijing in August.
Pignata said Hearfield would be a real asset for the Phoenix.
"We've been searching for that third under-21 player and Troy fits the bill.
"He played quite a few A-League matches (14) last season for the Jets and he's a player that can make an impact for us straight away at a young age."
Meanwhile, defender Steven Old, 22, has been released from his contract.
"We felt that while Steven is a young player with enormous potential he needed more game-time to develop," Pignata said.
"Given that we have signed players such as Andrew Durante and Jon McKain to bolster the defence, it was unlikely that Steven would get as many opportunities as he or coach Ricki Herbert would like."
The Phoenix have secured a playing contract for Old in the New South Wales premier league, where he will play for the Macarthur Rams.
"Steven can go there, play out the rest of the season and get ready to represent New Zealand at the Olympics. The most important thing for him right now is to be playing regular, competitive football."
- NZPA
