Sorry if this cut and paste does not work, I am sick you know. This was from this mornings WEST AUSTRALIAN. Before you ask, I think he is worth it. He is right footed and either plays in the middle of mid field or on the right. He is as quick as YKD, skillful and is built more like Howey I would say about 6'2" or so and strong.

Ergic No. 1 target for Europeans By Mel Moffat EVERYONE wants Ivan Ergic. The Germans, the English, the Scots, the Italians.

But Perth Glory will work overtime to keep the feet of their young superstar firmly on the ground - and to keep him at the club for at least another season.

The 19-year-old became an instant celebrity around Australia - and in some further-flung corners of the globe as well, thanks to television - when he inspired the Glory's stunning 2-0 NSL major semi-final triumph over Wollongong Wolves at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night.

Ergic's explosive bursts resulted in an 85th minute penalty, which was tucked away by Rob Trajkovski, and in the exciting midfielder scoring the extra-time goal that clinched the two-leg tie on a 2-1 aggregate.

Hertha Berlin coach Jurgen Rober was at the match and afterwards spoke to Ergic's parents. Two Italian scouts were also there - and it's known that several clubs in England, including Newcastle United, and at least one in Scotland are keeping tabs on Ergic.

A Scottish premier league club official saw Ergic play against Northern Spirit in Sydney in January and has had a Perth scout watching him since.

A German agent approached the Glory with a $1 million offer a few months ago, but the midfielder's value has almost certainly more than doubled.

The teenager had a day off yesterday and went to ground, although the Glory denied it was trying to wrap him in cotton-wool or protect him from being approached by interested clubs, agents or the media.

Ergic has become the hottest property in Australian soccer since Mark Viduka left Melbourne Knights to crash into European ranks three years ago. Harry Kewell doesn't fit the category. He joined Leeds United five years ago as an unknown, raw 16-year-old.

"We believe Ivan has as good a future as Viduka (currently with Glasgow Celtic)," said Glory general manager Roger Lefort.

"But Viduka was a few years older than Ivan when he went overseas and we would hope that Ivan would not be tempted to try his luck too soon.

"Fortunately, he seems to be accepting the advice he is being given by the club and our coach (Bernd Stange). He has said he wants to stay here and follow Bernd's recommendations and benefit from another season in the NSL."

Ergic, who joined the club for no transfer fee from the AIS in Canberra last August, has one year of his contract left.

Lefort said agents and player-managers were not allowed to speak to players under contract. "We will take action against anyone who approaches Ivan illegally," he said.

Apart from Ergic, the Glory could be confronted by the possibility of losing young sweeper Ljubo Milicevic and goalkeeper Jason Petkovic as well.

Milicevic turned in a man-of-the-match effort on Saturday night and is also a focus of German interest, as is Petkovic. The keeper is also being courted by Croatian champion Dinamo Zagreb.

Meanwhile, Adelaide Force coach Zoran Matic has denied star striker Damian Mori has agreed to join the Glory.

"As far as I'm concerned he's still undecided," Matic said.

Mori quit his job with Matic's company last week, but the coach said it was because the player wanted to concentrate on his soccer career.

-- Anonymous, May 30, 2000