“And the thing was, when initially signed his extension we actually gave him a two-year deal in-between that he then approached the Club to ask if it was possible for him to leave to earn a bigger contract in India – we gave him that opportunity, and when he came back we continued his contract that we had given him initially. “I don’t think him saying he had a two-year deal was ever going to change his decision the way I look at it is that people look at what they don’t have, and for me you’ve got to look at what you have,” says Talay. Wellington Phoenix Head Coach Ufuk Talay, says that he is strongly of the belief – based on conversations with Taylor and his relationship with his former Captain – that Taylor would never have seen through a two-year contract if he had requested and received one from the Club. “But at the same time I have to stand up for the Club and for the staff who have worked so hard for this football club over the past 18 months and to have some of our integrity questioned was particularly hurtful for me, the Chairman and others in the Club.” “So I’m very conscious of the fact that as a Club, we want to respect that legacy that he had as a player the way he loved this Club and he loved this city. The Club prides itself on how we handle staff and players, and we did our very best over that window to look after its people during that period and Tayls expressed that back to me, how extremely thankful he was for that. “I rang Tayls to thank him for his services to us as a football club, and he expressed to me his great thanks to me and the Chairman for everything we did over a particularly difficult time with ,” says Dome. Wellington Phoenix General Manager, David Dome, says that the Taylor retirement – and subsequent situation – came as a surprise to him, and he needed time to think about what was the best thing for the player and the Club.

While the Club does not want to take anything away from Taylor’s legacy with the Club and his popularity as a member of the Wellington Phoenix, it also reserves the right to respond to statements he has recently made to media.Īt a media stand-up this morning, General Manager David Dome and Coach Ufuk Talay addressed the media to clarify the club’s position, in order to assure fans that the Club has done its absolute best during a difficult situation. Wellington Phoenix would like to update its fanbase on the recent situation regarding Steven Taylor’s retirement from professional football, and subsequent comments he made to selected media regarding the Club.Īs per the Club’s original statement posted on Tue 28 September to announce Taylor’s retirement, the Club appreciates Taylor’s contribution – as a leader, a tactician and a player - over the past three seasons, and respects his decision to retire for the reasons which Taylor stated to Coach Ufuk Talay and GM David Dome a desire to see family in the UK and the recent effects of quarantining due to Covid.

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