Melbourne Victory is "anxiously waiting" on Football Federation Australia to "ratify a new deal on veteran players' wages so that Archie Thompson can sign a contract to keep him with the champions for an 11th season," according to Michael Lynch of THE AGE. Speculation had been "mounting" that Thompson "might have played his last game for Victory," with a number of other clubs -- including Wellington Phoenix, coached by his former boss Ernie Merrick -- reported to be "circling if no deal with Victory could be reached." Thompson's case is "causing some frustration for Victory." The clubs, players' union and the game's governing body all "agree that the initiative, designed to help A-League teams keep some of their long-serving stars or veterans who are closely associated with the club, is a positive thing." But a failure to agree on the exact terms has "stymied completion of the Thompson deal." It is understood the plan "provides that players who have served a minimum of five years with one club qualify, with the percentage of their wages deemed to be outside the cap worked out on a sliding scale." For a player with 10 years' service it is expected that a discount of around 50% of the salary "may be the figure agreed upon" (THE AGE, 6/10).
