I will stay at Sydney FC - Clint Bolton

SYDNEY FC goalkeeper Clint Bolton remains adamant he'll honour his contract with the club and yesterday described suggestions of a move to Japan as "just rumours".

"I have a contract for another year and I'm staying put. I am more than comfortable here," Bolton said yesterday. "I am not saying I still haven't got ambitions to play overseas but it's not easy - there's my age (33) and I don't have a European passport."

Rumours were rife in Gosford on Saturday night after Sydney lost 2-1 to a last-minute penalty against Central Coast that Bolton and also Newcastle's Ante Covic were both heading to the J-League.

"I don't know what my agent is looking into but, as of now, going to Japan is just rumours." Bolton said.

Bolton, along with marquee striker John Aloisi, copped plenty of stick from The Cove (Sydney fans) against the Mariners.

"I hear things what they say about players but I am not fazed," Bolton said. "Nothing has changed since the first year at Sydney. If you are winning then everything is rosy - if you are not, then they are asking questions why not.

"We are not playing the way we want to play. It's not pretty but we are trying our guts out."

Sydney face another tough game against Perth at the SFS on Sunday but they should soon welcome back key men Terry McFlynn, Simon Colosimo, Adam Casey and possibly Mitchell Prentice.

If Sydney have troubles then the Newcastle Jets are in turmoil.

Young Socceroo captain James Holland yesterday jetted off to The Netherlands for a trial and medical with AZ Alkmaar but the deal is 80 per cent done, according to Jets coach Gary van Egmond.

They have already lost skipper Jade North who originally planned to play for Queensland Fury but is now off to Korea, Adam Griffiths has signed for the Gold Coast, Mark Milligan is likely to go abroad when the January transfer window opens and goalie Covic is being linked to a Japanese club.

Van Egmond said it was impossible to stop young stars like Holland going. "It's part of the business," he said. "One thing is developing a player but then you have to find a replacement with the same quality. And you have to be vigilant and good in doing that."