It appears the New Zealand footballer Shane Smeltz will now ply his trade in Turkey and not the Gold Coast.
The Melbourne Age reports on its website that Smeltz, who was last night awarded the A-League competition's top honour the Johnny Warren Medal, has kicked his last ball in the A-League after accepting a lucrative three-year deal in Turkey.
It says the deal with Hacettepe [HA-jeh-teh-PEH] S.K, completed last night, trumped the offer of another Turkish club Gençlerbirligi.
The New Zealand international scored a league best 12 goals for Wellington Phoenix this season.
The transfer, believed to be worth $400,000, will reportedly see the bulk of the fee go to A-League newcomers Gold Coast United, who signed Smeltz as one of the key recruits for its debut season.
Smeltz' management have been unavailable for comment.
