Hutchinson looking to be a one-club man with new deal
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday December 18, 2009
CENTRAL COAST Mariners midfielder John Hutchinson says he wants to stay with the club for the rest of his career after signing a new three-year contract with the club he joined as a foundation player.Hutchinson, 29, has seen the highs and lows of the Australian football during the past decade after beginning his career with the defunct Gippsland Falcons before going on to join another ill-fated NSL club, Northern Spirit.But Hutchinson has finally been able to find a stable home with the Mariners, and became only the club's second player to have chalked up 100 league appearances. Despite interest from elsewhere and representing the Maltese national team, Hutchinson doesn't want to leave."This contract is great news for me but bad for the club," he joked. "Seriously, this is a great time to sign a three-year deal because the club is looking to the future. Everything's been approved for the new training ground, and overall the club has a great outlook."There was some interest from several other clubs but I've been here five years now and my family are really settled in the area. We're happy to stay here, and hopefully I'll see out my playing days at the Mariners."However, don't think this deal is the last one the physical midfielder wants to sign."I'm definitely hoping to go on for another one or two years after this deal," Hutchinson said. "It depends on what the body says at the time, of course. It might tell me it's over but the plan is to keep going for as long as I can contribute."Hutchinson will miss tomorrow's match against Brisbane Roar with suspension but will be a nervous spectator in the stands as the Mariners seek to cement their position in the top six."We've been a bit hot and cold this season. At times we've played some great football and looked like we were about to go onto bigger and better things but then we don't seem to follow it up," he said. "But after two losses now the boys are really looking forward to turning it around before the new year. We need to get a few points before then and climb up the ladder. We still believe we're a top two team, so now is the time for us to stand up and show it."
© 2009 Sydney Morning Herald