North Queensland Fury have lost marquee signing Jade North. The Australia international, still on the books of Newcastle Jets, had signed with Fury for next season.
But North has agreed a deal with a South Korean K-League club and will quit the A-League during the January transfer window.
While Fury's football staff are fuming with the development, it opens the door for the new franchise to land a more eye-catching marquee name for their inaugural season.