7 February 2011-SBS EXCLUSIVE
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| Moving on ... Gold Coast United hardman | Steve Pantelidis |
A-League hardman Steve Pantelidis has become the latest player to join the exodus from Gold Coast United with the combative midfielder inking a two-year deal with Indonesian outfit PSMS Medan.
The club is a part of the LPI, a breakaway professional soccer league launched earlier this month and backed by Indonesia's sports minister but not the Football Association of Indonesia which controls the existing 18-club Indonesia Super League.
Pantelidis decided to make the jump to Asia as United delayed a decision on handing him a contract extension at Skilled Park.
He joins an outward bound list which also includes the defender Dino Djulbic, who is bound for Chinese Super League Shaanxi Zhongjian Chanba FC, utility Bas van den Brink (Busan I'Park - K-League) and Adelaide United-bound midfielder Zenon Caravella.
Goal king Shane Smeltz, back at the club after his ill-fated stint in Turkey, is also hovering near the exit door, with Perth Glory making strong advances for the New Zealand international striker.
Pantelidis will move as soon as the club's A-League fate is finalised this season, with United sealing a home final by eclipsing Perth Glory 2-1 at nib Stadium on Sunday night and needing to beat second-placed Central Coast Mariners at Skilled Park on Wednesday night to keep alive a mathematical chance of overhauling Graham Arnold's side for the runner-up spot.
Sumatra-based PSMS Medan, already two games into the Divisi Utama season, is keen to get Pantelidis on board as soon as possible. It's believed his earnings will outstrip anything on offer in the A-League, with the player keen to secure his financial future.
Able to operate anywhere across the back four, and also in midfield, United will miss the steel of the 27-year-old who operated at right-back against Glory on Sunday and has made 24 appearances for the club this season, 15 of which were starts.
The former Melbourne Victory man has made a total of 44 appearances for United, and 99 A-League appearances in total in six seasons.
He has been a reformed character after picking up combined suspensions of 10 weeks last season as his discipline deserted him.
With Pantelidis on his way out, rumours also continue to circulate that marquee midfielder Jason Culina is unsettled and could be on Sydney FC's wanted list for next season.
Socceroos mainstay Culina, who is recovering from knee surgery to alleviate a meniscus problem, has one year left on his lucrative three-year $3.3 million contract and his agent Leo Karis insists there is no substance to any talk of a move elsewhere.
United could also have a fight on its hands to hold onto in-for goalkeeper Glen Moss, who has attracted a flurry of interest from rival clubs after a string of stand-out performances this season.
note: that should be Bintang Medan FC, PSMS and Bintang Medan FC are two clubs with same management with different league.
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