Glory keen for FFA rule clarification

Perth Glory will seek urgent clarification of the A-League's replacement rules for
marquee players with Mile Sterjovski preparing to return to the Socceroos fold this
week.

Sterjovski looks likely to be allowed to leave the club on an overseas loan deal as
early as January to keep his World Cup ambitions alive.
The striker returned to national coach Pim Verbeek's radar with his inclusion in the
Socceroos squad to play Oman in this weekend's vital Asian Cup qualifier in Muscat.
Sterjovski is among several A-League hopefuls who face at least a three-month gap
from the end of the finals series to the start of the World Cup in South Africa.
As a fringe player, the 30-year-old will need match fitness in his favour to shore
up his chances of World Cup selection - and the Glory have indicated they will
release him if a suitable loan deal can be struck.
But the club remains unclear just how adequately they can replace Sterjovski, whose
wages are paid outside the salary cap.
The Glory's need for answers became more urgent in the wake of their 1-1 draw with
Wellington on Sunday, which buoyed hopes Perth are on their way to a first A-League
finals series.
Glory coach Dave Mitchell hopes the club can secure a like-for-like replacement of
Sterjovski's quality within the competition rules should he leave ahead of the
finals series.
"That's (the rule) got to be clear. If Mile goes, what players can we bring in?"
Mitchell said.
"We're already looking for players and seeing who's available."
Sterjovski and fellow Socceroos squad members Craig Moore and Jason Culina all
survived their weekend A-League matches unscathed ahead of the match against Oman.
Gold Coast midfielder Culina and Brisbane Roar skipper Moore look certain to be in
Verbeek's starting 11 for the match and played their part in weekend wins for their
clubs.
Another important Socceroo, midfielder Brett Emerton, played a full 90 minutes in
Blackburn's 3-1 English Premier League win over Portsmouth on Saturday.