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Dean Bouzanis: heading home

GOALKEEPER Dean Bouzanis is set to pick up his career back home in the A-League, according to reports in Australia.

Despite being Athletic’s first-choice keeper for most of the season, the 22 year old from Sydney was not offered a new contract for 2013-14.

Bouzanis made 42 appearances and beat compatriot Alex Cisak in the race for the number one shirt.

The high point of the season for ‘Bouzy’ was the 3-2 FA Cup defeat of Liverpool — the club at which he grew through the ranks after coming to the UK.

But his season also featured blunders, a needless red card and a behind-the-scenes bust-up which led to disciplinary action. Athletic manager Lee Johnson felt he was better served looking elsewhere.

Bouzanis is now set to try to earn a contract with an A-League club ahead of the season’s start in October.



Athletic duo Kirk Millar and Carl Winchester are in camp with Northern Ireland, preparing for the UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier against Cyprus.

The game is on Thursday night at the Makarion Stadium in Nicosia.

Carl’s twin brother Jude, of Kilmarnock, is also in manager Stephen Robinson’s squad.



FORMER Athletic loan striker Aaron Wilbraham is celebrating promotion to the Premier League after his Crystal Palace side saw off Watford 1-0 in yesterday’s npower Championship play-off final.

Wilbraham played five times for Athletic in the 2004-05 season, scoring twice.