Three Wellington Phoenix regulars will be moving on at the end of the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
First-choice goalkeeper Oli Sail and key midfielders Clayton Lewis and Steven Ugarkovic have informed the Phoenix they won’t be re-signing with the club.
Phoenix director of football Shaun Gill is disappointed the off-contract trio have opted to play elsewhere next season.
“They are key members of our squad and have all contributed to where the team is now; in finals contention with eight rounds to play,” Gill said.
“Oli, Clay and Stevie will be hard to replace next season, but they’re great professionals and I know they’re committed to helping lead the Wellington Phoenix to this year’s A-League finals.
“Negotiations continue with other off-contract players and fans can rest assured that the core of the men’s squad will be sticking around for the 2023-24 A-League season and beyond.”
Sail, 27, has been with the Phoenix for the best part of a decade, playing for the reserves before breaking through for his first-team debut in March, 2018.
He has gone on to play 70 A-League matches since cementing himself as the club’s no. 1 early in the 2020-21 season.
Lewis, 26, joined the Nix in October 2020 and has played 56 A-League matches for the club.
Injuries have limited his involvement. He suffered a serious ankle injury last season and is currently side-lined with a fractured kneecap.
Ugarkovic, 28, has featured in all 18 of the Phoenix’s league matches this season, having arrived in Wellington in July with more than 150 games of A-League experience.
