Yorke gutted at Sydney exit

Dwight Yorke was gutted not to receive a new contract offer from Sydney FC.

The former Manchester United favourite joined Sunderland last week as one of several signings made by new Black Cats incumbent Roy Keane.

While the North East outfit are delighted to secure the services of such an experienced performer, Yorke has now spoken of his heartache upon having to quit his life in Australia.

Yorke admits he was left waiting on the phone for a call from his former paymasters but upon not receiving a contract extension, he had no alternative but to seek pastures new.

"I sat by the phone until 5am Friday, just waiting for the call (from Sydney)," Yorke told the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

"Just waiting for someone from Sydney FC to say that they didn't want me to go, that they still wanted me. But that call never came. I'm absolutely gutted to say the least, I'm devastated, just devastated.

"The thing is, the more I think about it, even if I got a call from someone at the last minute and they said 'Dwight, we don't want you to leave', then I think there and then that I would have stayed. I definitely would have stayed.

"It's so sad that I've got to say goodbye to these guys (the backroom staff at Sydney FC), they have become personal friends.

"It's a crying shame how it all ended. When things are going so well, you hope for the fairytale ending but that just won't happen now.

"The fact is, I was looking forward to leading Sydney and looking forward to defending the championship. I can't believe I'm leaving, I really can't believe it."