SASHO Petrovski plans to get a few tips about retirement from his teammates in a charity All Star game in Townsville tonight, but the ageless Jets striker does not intend to be pensioned off just yet.
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Petrovski, 36 next month, is adamant he has at least one year of A-League football left in him.
Ideally, he would like that to be at the Jets.
After announcing a week ago that Petrovski would be let go, coach Branko Culina has since indicated the door is not completely closed.
"As is stands now, Sash is one of the players who will be released," Culina said.
"However, we will sit down and review everything again and see how it fits in with our salary cap and our requirements."
Culina said it was a similar scenario with imports Marcello Fiorentini and Zhang Shuo, who are also expected to depart.
Petrovski has become a crowd favourite at EnergyAustralia Stadium and hopes to convince Culina he is an asset worth keeping.
"I have formed a real attachment to the city," Petrovski said.
"That is why I'm hanging out for them to change their mind.
"I have been trying to show them that I've still got what it takes, the boys believe in me and think I still have something to offer as a character, as a teammate and a player.
"This year has been massive for me. I was geared up for it and had a good preparation.
"With limited time I have made the most of it."
It is hard to fault his contribution.
The wily front man was the Jets' leading goalscorer with six despite not starting a match.
In 16 appearances he played a total of 370 minutes at an average of 23 minutes per hit-out.
His goals-to-minutes-played ratio was a phenomenal one every 62 minutes and his haul included crucial late equalisers against the Mariners and Sydney FC.
"That is me. My strike ratio is one goal every three games," Petrovski said.
"That is on par with what I have done throughout my career.
"Two years ago I arrived at the Jets and scored two goals on debut, and if it is my last season I finished off at home with the same story [in a 4-0 win over Perth]."
The Jets have added North Queensland youngster Chris Payne to a strike force next season that includes Michael Bridges, Ryan Griffiths, Marko Jesic and Labinot Haliti.
Culina is also chasing a big-name marquee striker.
It is believed Petrovski has had interest from Indonesia and India, but if he is to stay in Newcastle he will almost certainly have to take a pay cut.
"If I can't sort anything out here by the end of the week I will have to start looking elsewhere," he said.
"I think there will be something for me, it is just a matter of waiting to see what is out there.
"I have a few offers to head back home [to Wollongong] and get involved in the local community.
"I have my C [coaching] licence, but I don't really want to get into coaching, I want to play.
"Coaching is too stressful."
Tonight he will team up with former Sydney FC teammates Clint Bolton, Steve Corica, Mark Rudan and Robbie Middleby in the All Star XI to play a Ufuk Talay XI. Former Socceroo Craig Moore, Fox commentator Andy Harper and Fury coaching staff Franz Straka and Stuart McLaren will line up for the All Stars.
Petrovski won a championship alongside the retiring Talay at Sydney FC.
"It will be good to catch up with my ex-teammates," Petrovski said.
"Most of them are retired and hopefully they can give me a few tips on what it is like."
