South Melbourne FC advises that Trent Rixon, Alan Kearney and Carl Recchia have all departed the Club.
Trent Rixon signed for South at the beginning of the 2012 Victorian Premier League season after an outstanding number of seasons at Northcote City that had him rated as one of the best forwards outside of the A-League. Injuries plagued the talented centre-forward during his two years at South Melbourne and fans only saw glimpses of the form that had made him such a talent at Northcote City. In the second half of the 2013 Victorian Premier League season, he hit a rich vein of form and was one of the catalysts in South’s rise from a mid-table side to eventual Preliminary Finalists. Rixon’s 10 goals in the second half of the season saw him comfortably secure the 2013 SMFC Golden Boot Award. Across all competitions he played 36 matches for the Club and scored 13 goals.
Alan Kearney arrived at Lakeside Stadium at the start of the 2013 season. The tough Irishman came to the Club following an outstanding year with Southern Stars, where he had played a leading and dominant role in the middle of the park. Kearney was a hard working and uncompromising midfielder and brought a very tough element to the South midfield. Towards the end of the home and away season, he made a number of appearances from the bench but he fought his way back into the starting eleven and secured the left-back position during the finals series. Across all competitions, Kearney played 22 matches for South Melbourne.
Carl Recchia joined the Club from Moreland Zebras, his third arrival at the Club following stints in the 2003/04 National Soccer League season and the 2010 and 2011 Victorian Premier League seasons. Unfortunately for him, his third stint at the Club was an unpleasant one when an innocuous tackle in pre-season training resulted in him sustaining a knee injury that ruled him out for the entire 2013 season. Across all competitions, he made 52 appearances and scored six goals for the Club.
Speaking to smfc.com.au, SMFC Head Coach Chris Taylor said “it was always intended to retain the bulk of last year’s squad; however if a player believes he is better off else where, then so be it. It is paramount to have players that want to play for the shirt. The Club is and always will be bigger than the individual”.
South Melbourne FC wishes all three players the best in their future endeavours.