Cahill hints at Everton exit

(GETTY IMAGES)

Everton's Australian midfielder Tim Cahill has indicated he is likely to leave the club at the end of his current contract to finish his career in his homeland.

Cahill, who turns 29 next month, has a contract with the Toffees until 2012 after signing a new deal last year.

The free-scoring midfielder has proved himself a loyal servant at Goodison Park since arriving from Millwall in 2004, however, his ties with aspiring A-League club South Coast FC are set to take him back to Australia.

South Coast FC are bidding to join the Australian domestic league in 2010-11, with Cahill having already pledged his own money to fund the project. The Australia international also plans to set up an academy with the Wollongong franchise bearing his own name.

"Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to round off my football life playing for a team that I'm convinced will get a licence to join the competition sooner rather than later," he told Australian website www.theworldgame.sbs.com.au.

"The fact I can be part of the club's player development in terms of giving kids in the region a chance to excel would only make it sweeter. I'm in this project for the long haul.

"I want to be part of the club in a meaningful way on the field too. I want to come home when I still have something left to give as a player. That's also very important to me.

"Obviously I couldn't be happier where I am right now at Everton, but it would great to be a part of helping build the game up back home too because football has given me a great life."