No Glory for Owen

Perth Glory have ruled out making a play for Stoke City forward Michael Owen.

The former England international was rumoured to be interested in a switch to the A-League having struggled to gain a spot in the first team at the Brittania Stadium, due to a mixture of his own fitness and the good form of Tony Pulis’ men.

But after reports strongly linked Glory and Owen, the Perth club have now put a line through the 33-year-old.

“Michael is a player who comes with a high pedigree but it’s not the direction I want to take the club,” Perth coach Ian Ferguson said in a statement.

“I am looking for a younger player and a player who has been playing more regularly.

“I have three or four irons in the fire that I am pursuing, which is good.

“In terms of Michael, there was contact from an agent if we were interested, it was discussed at a good level, but I have made the decision he is the not the player needed at Perth Glory.”

Glory had previously expressed their interest in signing Owen in the January transfer window, however the club have now done a backflip on their initial preferences.

The statement comes shortly after Glory made a big play for former MLS star David Beckham, but their attempts to land the ex-England international are unlikely to come to fruition.