Connor Simpson not giving up on NPL hopes after leaving Gold Coast Knights

CONNOR Simpson has opened up about his departure from the Gold Coast Knights, insisting he has not given up hope of finding another NPL home this season.

CONNOR Simpson has not given up hope of finding another NPL home this season after leaving the Gold Coast Knights last month.

Signed from Gold Coast Premier League club Broadbeach United in the off-season, Simpson and the Knights parted ways on amicable terms following the March 16 fixture against Gold Coast United.

BELIEF BUILDING FOR BROADBEACH BWPL TITLE TILT

The 23-year-old defender had been unable to break into the Knights’ first team, instead playing five games for the club’s under-20 NPL side.

He has since spent time training with QPL outfit Souths United and a number of local Premier League sides, but is prepared to bide his time in search of the right club.

Former Gold Coast Knights player Connor Simpson.

“I want to stay at a high level but I’m not really too fussed on where I’m going, at this present time anyway. I’m just happy to be playing football,” the former Knights junior said.

“I haven’t really put a time frame on it. Obviously it’s still pretty early in the season for pretty much everyone so I’m just putting myself out there and seeing what happens from that.

“I might be going to train at another NPL or QPL team (this) week but at the moment I’ve been training with some of the teams on the Coast just to keep fit.

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“I’m definitely not opposed to (playing in the Premier League) and taking what would be a step back to take another step forward next year.

“But obviously I’m going to try and exert all options in the higher levels before I consider coming back to the Coast. Obviously in a months’ time if I still couldn’t make a decision, then I might have to start looking back towards the Coast again.”

Simpson in action for Broadbeach in last season’s Premier League grand final. Picture: Jerad Williams

Simpson insisted there was no bad blood with the Knights.

“Not at all, I think the club’s great. I’ve never been treated any better, I’ve not a bad word to say about them,” he said.

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“Obviously at my age I want to be playing first team and with the squad that they’ve got, it’s hard for someone like myself, who’s fresh to the league and the NPL set up, to push into a team that was as successful as they were in the first six games.

“It was just a mutual agreement (to leave) and I wanted to play a little bit more senior football.”