Lachy Wales on why he left the Mariners for Melbourne City

PROMISING attacker Lachy Wales was officially Australia’s lowest paid professional soccer player last season - man or woman - earning a meagre $80 a week.

Lachy Wales signed a two-year deal with Melbourne City. Picture: Getty Images

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PROMISING attacker Lachy Wales was officially Australia’s lowest paid professional soccer player last season - man or woman - earning a meagre $80 a week.

He was celebrated as an A-League breakthrough star, yet barely earned enough for petrol, let alone joining his then Central Coast teammates for lunch.

“I was on $80 a week. I was doing everything as a professional footballer, come the end of the month I wasn’t getting paid like one,’’ Wales said.

“I quit Uni (teaching degree) and said I’ll give it one last crack. Doesn’t matter if you can’t pay me I’ll train everyday.

“I would do (refereeing) in the afternoons for extra money. After training I would change into a referee kit and go.

“They paid $15 a game, 30-minute games. Once I started playing (A-League), the (players) go ‘are you…?’ I’d say ‘yeah’. They’re like, ‘what are you doing here’?

“That’s just what I had to do for opportunity.”

Lachy Wales signed a two-year deal with Melbourne City. Picture: Getty Images

Wales, who provided a goal assist with his first A-League touch last season and impressed in 10 games, revealed his budgetary tricks.

“It was tough. My dad saved me. For my 18th birthday my dad bought me a Subaru Forrester to drive to training,’’ he said.

“Dad cooked me every meal. If I needed fuel or if the boys were going out or I wanted to go to the movies, he’d help.”

Living off a $4000 annual soccer wage (W-League minimum was $10,000) wasn’t the hardest part for Wales, who admitted the death of his mum to cancer several years ago kept him focused.

The reality check came in April, which prompted his move to Melbourne City, where he is a starter.

Lachy Wales made good progress with the Mariners yet was being paid $80 a week. Picture: AAP

It’s understood the Mariners withdrew a two-year offer and pressured him to sign a one-year contract.

Saturday marks his first return to Gosford since leaving and it will be mixed emotions after the stunning exit of the local Central Coast kid and former Mariners ball boy, who attended most home games and even stalked then Mariners striker John Aloisi at his hotel for hours.

“I was shocked. I’m very relaxed, not impatient. Things wanted to be rushed,’’ Wales said.

“I just wanted to play there. No hard feelings, football’s a business. You can’t always be the local kid that gave everything to a club. At some point they have to give something back.

“People said I went for the money. I’m on the same here (he would’ve got at the Mariners).

“I signed at City for two seasons. That’s all I wanted, two seasons.

“Since I’ve got here I realised this is the place to be. The gym, facilities. I’ve put on 4 kilos.”

Wales may be on minimum A-League wage this season ($63,000), but he couldn’t be happier with the pay rise.

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