FORMER CELTIC AND Crystal Palace midfielder Joe Ledley has joined Newcastle Jets in Australia’s A-League, where he’ll become a team-mate of Roy O’Donovan and Wes Hoolahan.
The Welsh international has been without a club since his one-month deal with Charlton expired in January.
Ledley, 33, had been training with League Two Newport County but has opted to swap Wales for New South Wales where he’ll play under former international team-mate Carl Robinson.
Ledley has signed a contract which will last until the end of the A-League season in May.
“I know I’ll have to be at my best to earn a spot in the starting 11,” Ledley said.
“The opportunity to work under Carl is one that I’m also looking forward to.
“We crossed paths in a few Wales camps when I was a youngster and to have the chance to link up with him again is exciting.”
Robinson added: “Joe’s record at club and international level speaks for itself, he’s a class player and to have him here at the Jets for the remainder of the season is great.
“He’s the type of player who will really help our younger boys out, plus he’ll add a different dimension to our game and I think he’ll have a good impact.”
Ledley has played 77 times for Wales, scoring four goals, but hasn’t added to his caps since the summer of 2018. He played in every game as Wales reached the Euro 2016 semi-final.
Former Republic of Ireland international Hoolahan, 37, and former U21 international O’Donovan, 34, are also on the books at the second-from-bottom Jets, who have won one and drawn three of their last four fixtures.
Hoolahan made his long-awaited debut for the club on Saturday following ankle surgery, with O’Donovan netting the first goal of his second stint at the Jets in their 1-1 draw with Melbourne Victory.
That ref is a bit whistle happy. Being particularly harsh on KK I’d think.
@Jason Pierce: he is a joke the cork keeper should get a oscar for acting
@Tom Dowling: yellow was for throwing the hurl…
@IrishOwl: she threw the defenders hurl away. Not at someone. How is that foul play? I haven’t read the rule book so I’m open for correction.
@Jason Pierce: ref loves Cork, thats why
@Jason Pierce: apparently its there somewhere i believe. Sportsmanship and all that….
@Oisin Curry: oh that must be it… my bad ? Ffs
@IrishOwl: why was the goalie acting then the usual cork stuff
@IrishOwl: and penalty what was that for?
@Jamie Walsh: and about three or four other frees, he gave one for charging that was a joke
@IrishOwl: nothing about yellow for throwing a hurl away
@Tom Dowling: usual stuff like winning another All Ireland ? Ffs pipe down
@Anthony Davoren: thats that settled then. Anyway… who cares.. Cork won !
@IrishOwl: brilliant analysis, who cares? Handed an all Ireland ffs
@Jamie Walsh: handed an All Ireland ? Lol. Sure all Kilkennys wides had no bearing on the result.. go back to bed. The hatred for Cork is strong today.
@IrishOwl: I’m wide awake and hate to point the obvious but the amount of wides registered by a team has no bearing on scoreboard?! , but if one team scores when handed penalties and frees that have no place in a competitive match let alone an AI final well that might I’m thinking
Ref is woeful
Ref should be ashamed of himself
That ref should be ashamed of himself.
What women if only cork men hurlers had the same bottle
Up the Rebels. Well done!
A complete joke of a referee kilkenny were totally robbed, working hard all year to reach AI then cheated by an imbecile
Denise Gaule might just pip it. Sorry I mean Kilkenny of course
Heap of shite. *anny hurling
@Paulie T: anny hurling?