Yorke hints at Sydney exit

The Trinidad and Tobago captain was Sydney FC’s marquee player in the league’s inaugural season last year.

“You just never know in football,” Yorke replied when asked if he’d be with Sydney at the end of the season.

“I’ll be quite honest, there is interest as we speak, but it’s not for me to discuss that. I signed a two-year contract, and my obligation is to fulfill that. Whether that continues or not I don’t know.”

The 34-year-old Yorke led Trinidad and Tobago in their first World Cup appearance last month in Germany. The twin-island nation of just 1.3 million people welcomed the team back with a noisy street party and a rally, despite the team not winning a match of scoring a goal in the tournament.

Sydney FC chief executive Tim Parker wants Yorke back.

“We have every intention of retaining him for the season and defending the championship with him,” Parker said. “It’s flattering that there’s a lot of interest in him and not unexpected given his terrific performances.

“But as far as we’re concerned, we hope that he’s on board for the entire season. I think we have answered the one question of ‘Is he coming back?’”

As well as his A-League commitments last season, Yorke travelled to and from the Caribbean, Central America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East to play for Trinidad and Tobago. He also undertook a two-month training stint with Manchester United to stay fit ahead of Germany 2006.

But he admits he’s now out of shape.

“I haven’t kicked a ball since the World Cup,” said Yorke, who rated his current fitness as “shocking.”

“The management staff has kindly given me ample time to recharge the battery and hopefully I’ve done that. I can’t wait to start again, and it’s been fun to be back here with the lads.”

Sydney coach Terry Butcher has already ruled Yorke out of Sydney’s preseason match with New Zealand Knights on Saturday.

The following week’s match against Perth Glory is likely to be the earliest Yorke will play. (AP)