Marinettes' demise clouds Michelle Heyman's future

By Joel Ritchie
Updated November 5 2012 - 10:50pm, first published August 4 2010 - 10:47am

She is the W-League's best player. Its leading scorer. A prodigious talent who went from suburban to international football in just over two years. And Michelle Heyman - the South Coast's first home-grown Matilda - could be on the sidelines when the national competition starts in November.Wollongong-born Heyman - reigning player of the year and golden boot winner - is considering sitting out 2010-11 after her club, Central Coast, withdrew from the W-League last week citing financial difficulties.The Sydney-based striker, who made her international debut in March, revealed she had few options after last season's runners-up collapsed."It could be the case because it is going to take so much effort to play this year," Heyman said.Missing season III of the W-League would place Heyman's hopes of being selected for the next year's World Cup in jeopardy.Matildas coach Tom Sermanni - who arrives in Wollongong with Asian Cup winners Sally Shippard, Leena Khamis, Teigan Allen and Lydia Williams for a two-day visit today - has encouraged the 22-year-old to accept a lifeline from Canberra United.Heyman hopes to have a deal done within a week, although Queensland Roar put out a feeler on Monday night.Despite bursting onto the scene with 11 goals in 10 games last term - earning the Julie Dolan Medal (player of the year) in the process - Heyman doubts she would be an automatic selection for the ACT-based outfit."I haven't decided anything yet, Canberra might be the best option and I have talked to them," Heyman said."I have offers but I'm just worried about game time and that's something I knew I'd get at Central Coast."If I was to play in Canberra I would want to move down there and be part of the team rather than just coming down for games."Heyman, who rose to prominence after playing for Shellharbour in 2007 and the Stingrays for the following two seasons, was shattered when she discovered Central Coast's demise."It was the worst thing I had heard for a long time," Heyman said."It cut me to pieces - we'd heard some rumours a couple of weeks earlier, but we thought there was no way they could force us out."Heyman was a late scratching from the Matildas tour - believed to be the first official visit by members of any national football to the Illawarra - due to work commitments.Her appearances at coaching clinics today (at Judy Masters Oval) and tomorrow (at WIN Stadium) - plus a gala dinner on Thursday night - were to be major drawcards of the tour.

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