WES Hoolahan has travelled to Australia to finalise a deal which will see him sign for A League side Newcastle Jets.

The 37-year-old has signed for the New South Wales based club on an initial one-year deal.

It was reported last week that the emergence of the Australian offer had scuppered Cambridge United's plans to sign the former Irish international.

Hoolahan spent last year at West Brom but was always interested in the idea of a move to either America or Australia if the right kind of opportunity cropped up.

He will now relocate Down Under for a fresh start with his family. The Jets finished seventh in last year's A League.

The 37-year-old had been training with League Two side Cambridge over the summer, with manager Colin Calderwood keen to sign the former Norwich playmaker.

However, last week Calderwood said: "Unfortunately Wes is not going to sign for us.

"He told me yesterday. There's a nice opportunity for him and we’ve got no hold on him and it suits him and his family.

"We wish him all the best, it’s a blow for us as we had real hopes and every indication that he was going to be a very important factor in helping us achieve what we want to achieve this season.

"He never signed, he never crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s. I have no complaints, I really enjoyed having him around the environment, and he’s definitely helped everyone.

"What we have to do is take the moments he’s been here, as he’s really lifted and improved in that short period the standard of training and shown the rest of the lads different qualities that are required."

Online Editors