KEY POINTS:
The Wellington Phoenix will search South America and Europe for a replacement for marksman Shane Smeltz.
The 27-year-old All White has been the club's best player over the past two seasons but has opted to join the Gold Coast, who will be part of an expanded 10-team A-League from next season.
While the Phoenix have said all clubs lose top players, Smeltz was one they didn't want to see go. He scored nine goals last season and has nine already in 14 games this season to lead the race for the league's golden boot.
"It's disappointing to lose Shane because he's been very good for us and grown in stature to take the league by the scruff of the neck," Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert said. "He was offered a very, very good contract financially to stay but decided to sign with the Gold Coast. The interest shown in him didn't surprise me at all.
"But it needs to be remembered that when I signed him to the club no one thought he was that good because of where he was playing. Shane has shown that if you put players into the right environment, they can flourish. Now it is a case of finding someone else capable of doing that.
"It's our priority to find two strikers and an attacking midfielder and we will look to South America and Europe. We don't have anyone in mind at this stage."
The Phoenix have had little joy recruiting Brazilians over the past two years. Cleberson, George and Felipe all disappointed last season while Daniel has had mixed success. Fred is a player of genuine class but has only three games left in a six-game loan spell.
Last season's big target, Joel Porter, has been linked with a move to join Smeltz at the Gold Coast.
Recruitment is taking shape at Wellington but there won't be the horde of newcomers.
"I think we will have three or four new signings," Herbert said. "The last thing we need is another 10 or 11 new players coming in next season. There needs to be some stability now."
The club re-signed six players in recent weeks and others off contract at the end of this season are also expected to put pen to paper on extended contracts.
Mark Paston, Richard Johnson, Karl Dodd, Vaughan Coveny, Greg Draper and Adam Kwasnik are all off contract, while Smeltz and Glen Moss are both leaving - the latter for Melbourne.
Recruitment is not the only thing on Herbert's mind after watching his side get thrashed 6-1 by Adelaide on Friday night in an inept performance.
Hindmarsh Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for the club and they have now conceded 13 goals in three league games there.
"We were poor, no doubt about it," said Herbert, who had been hopeful of seeing his side pick up at least a draw on the back of three consecutive wins. "But I don't think it's going to dent us too much. The biggest concern is how much it affects us psychologically.
"We were in great form leading into the match but just had one of those days. All we can do is forget about it as quickly as possible."
They have a chance to do that at home to Perth on Saturday night, although they are likely to be without Mark Paston.
The goalkeeper picked up a rib injury and is likely to be out for up to three weeks, forcing Herbert to search for a back-up.
