Magpies skipper plays down Clarke visit

COLLINGWOOD captain Nick Maxwell has suggested that there is no indication that the Magpies even want GAA star Martin Clarke back.

The much anticipated move of the Down player back to Australia has promoted cautious words from the Melbourne AFL club — with the club captain the latest to divert suggestions that Clarke’s new Aussie deal is done and dusted.

Instead Maxwell insisted the 23-year-old is only travelling on a holiday and there was no indication the club want to re-sign the former Aussie Rules utility man.

“As it stands we don’t know if he is interested in coming back and we don’t know if the club wants to take him back,” Maxwell said.

“That will be something the recruiters and Geoff Walsh (manager) will have to talk about and cross that bridge should we come to it.”

Maxwell dealt with the issue of a returning Clarke head-on, in a rapid fire press conference yesterday. He didn’t allow the attending journalists to ask any questions — instead running through the topics he thought would come up in the pre-game training ground press conference.

One of them was that of Clarke’s return and he suggested the Down man is only lined up to pop into the club for a chat with old friends.

“Marty Clarke — he is coming across for a holiday. Obviously he will come to the club and meet up with people here.”

This adds to the growing chorus coming from the cautious Aussie Rules club that Clarke is not primed to sign a new AFL contract.

Just days ago Collingwood football manager Geoff Walsh also insisted the Ulster-based teacher is only on holiday, while the Australian media have also played down his trip, saying that Clarke is not expected to become a Collingwood player again anytime soon.