Hartlepool striker Joel Porter says he is looking forward to finally making the move back home and becoming a Gold Coast United player.

The 30-year old has enjoyed a career-best season with the 'Pools in 2008/09 and despite interest from several English Championship clubs, is excited about playing in the A-League with a brand new club.

"There was a few whispers that a few Championship sides were coming to watch but I haven't heard anything," he told the Peterlee Mail.

"I don't have an agent or anything like that who can keep in touch with those sort of things.

"I was pretty ecstatic when I got the news that an Australian side was looking to get me back home. Once I got that in my mind there was pretty much only one thing I was going to do."

Porter said he was also looking forward to living on the Gold Coast.

"It's a great area to live and it will be good not just for me but for my family. It makes it easier for the grandparents to see grandkids and so forth," he added.