Former soccer international Danny Hay is to join the Football Kingz on a three-year deal.

The Auckland-based club announced Hay's signing but did not say when he would debut for them in the Australian national soccer league (NSL).

The Kingz said Hay, the 1997 NSL player of the year when he played for Perth Glory, had negotiated a release by mutual consent with his English first division club Walsall.

Hay and his wife, who originates from Perth, wished to return to Australasia for personal reasons.

He was either going to sign for Perth Glory or the Football Kingz.

He is due to return to New Zealand in early January and the Kingz said he would be available to play for the balance of the current 2003-2004 NSL season.

Hay played 20 matches for New Zealand before retiring from international duty in July.

His career in recent years has been blighted by injury. A period spent with English first division club Leeds saw him go down with a series of groin problems.

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