Ange lures Nichols to Victory

Reunion ... Mitch Nichols turns to Melbourne Victory. Source: Nathan Richter / News Limited

Brisbane Roar have failed in their bid to re-sign Mitch Nichols, with the attacking midfielder opting to link with former coach Ange Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory.

Sources have told The Courier-Mail that Nichols had agreed to terms with the Victory, ending a six-season stint with the Roar that included 125 A-League appearances.

Brisbane coach Mike Mulvey had been confident of keeping the one-time Socceroo, and delayed contract talks until the end of the recently completed 2012-13 season.

But the move seems to have backfired, with Postecoglou having swooped for the services of the 24-year-old Palm Beach product.

Nichols played his best football under Postecoglou, having been a key member of the Roar's back-to-back championship-winning squads.

It was well known that Nichols' preference was to head to Europe, but after a mixed season at the Roar under Rado Vidosic and then Mulvey, another season in the A-League won't do him any harm.

The departure of Nichols follows hot on the heels of last week's revelation that fellow midfielder Massimo Murdocca will also leave the Roar to join Melbourne Heart.

The Roar are expected to lose attacker Ben Halloran to German club Fortuna Dusseldorf, while midfielder Steve Lustica is set to return to Croatian club Hajduk Split.

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