All White Shane Smeltz bails on Chinese contract

Reuters

SHANE SMELTZ: Goal scoring heroics at the World Cup caught international attention.

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All Whites striker Shane Smeltz will return to A-League football club Gold Coast United just five days into his two-year contract with Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reported today that Smeltz had decided it would be impossible for wife Nikki and his two children to settle in Jinan, 400km south of Beijing.

Gold Coast announced last Sunday they had agreed to sell the New Zealand international to Shandong, who sit third in the Chinese Super League after 10 matches, reportedly for $300,000.

Smeltz has been among the A-League's best strikers since making his debut for Wellington Phoenix in 2007, netting 40 goals in 65 appearances. He scored 19 goals in United's debut season to easily win the league's golden boot honours.

The 28-year-old's move to China followed an impressive campaign for New Zealand at the World Cup in South Africa, where he scored in the 1-1 draw with reigning champions Italy.

A Football Federation Australia source confirmed yesterday that since Smeltz's international transfer clearance form was never dispatched by United, he is free to rejoin them.

Smeltz will be free to play for United in their season opener against Brisbane Roar on August 8.

Gold Coast's boss Clive Palmer yesterday told the Bulletin there had been "an issue" for Smeltz in China and he was returning home.

"We are hopeful of retaining him for the coming season... as things stand, we don't believe we have transferred him and it doesn't look like we will be either," Palmer said.

Smeltz played with Mansfield Town, Wimbledon and Halifax Town in England prior to joining the Phoenix.

- NZPA