Goalkeeper Jess Vanstrattan is on his way out of the Gold Coast after agreeing terms with Central Coast Mariners for the new A-League season.

United's first major signing back in 2008, the 27-year-old has been unsettled for some time and was released from the final two seasons of his three-year deal after requesting the club let him return to his home town of Gosford.

The switch was concluded on Sunday but is conditional on the Mariners receiving the money from Turkish Super Lig club Konyaspor for the recent sale of keeper Danny Vukovic.

Though Vukovic is in Turkey in pre-season training, the Mariners still hold his international clearance and he will not be released until the club receives the funds within the next 48 hours.

"Danny will keep coming back to the Mariners unless the money is paid. That's where things stand and the deal with Jess is dependent on that money being received," said a Mariners spokesman.

Vanstrattan, who has made just 18 starts for United in an injury-ravaged stay, was tipped by United coach Miron Bleiberg as a future senior Socceroos No.1 when he arrived on the tourist strip.

But the chemistry between coach and player never fully flourished with Vanstrattan involved in a spat with former United assistant coach Paul Okon during a frustrating stay at Skilled Park.

Bleiberg told AAP he was hopeful of concluding a deal with a new goalkeeper sooner rather than later.

"Obviously securing a new goalkeeper is paramount and we will be looking to make a signing as soon as possible, as long as the player is right for us," he said.
The situation with United's boomerang striker Shane Smeltz also remains unresolved with the A-League's most prolific hitman back on the Gold Coast after his aborted five-day move to Shandong Luneng and still officially a United player.

United is in consultation with Smeltz, the Professional Footballers Association and Footballer Federation Australia over the future of the New Zealand international, who remains committed to securing an overseas switch to secure his financial future.

United CEO Clive Mensink said: "We are keen to keep Shane after his move to China broke down but there are some hurdles still to overcome and we're trying to work through things.

"This is unfamiliar territory for us. We just want to do what's best for the club and also for Shane."

On the impending departure of Vanstrattan, who spent four years in Italy with Carrarese, Ancona and Juventus before returning to his roots, Mensink said: "On his day he's the best keeper in Australia but he expressed his desire to return to the town of his family and we didn't want to stop him from doing that.

"He was very unfortunate with injuries here and we wish him the best."