Faced with an ultimatum from W-League champions Canberra United to extinguish the flame of her international cricket career, the dual international will hold talks with Sydney FC coach Alen Stajcic about switching to the Sky Blues.
Both Canberra and Perry were yesterday emphasising that the parting will be amicable, after United told her that the price of continuing to play for the club was a pledge to train four days a week - which is impossible with her cricket commitments.
Having played in both the Ashes and a football World Cup, Perry is determined to continue playing both sports, and Stajcic said he wants to explore what that entails.
"There is a real possibility, let's put it that way," Stajcic said of her signing for Sydney FC. Before anything happens I need to have a talk to her about her commitments and plans for the future, to see how that will pan out. I'm not sure she knows what her cricket commitments are, for instance, further down the line. I also need to have a chat with her about whether she's a good fit for us, and us for her.
Perry was a notable omission from the Canberra premiership side during their 3-2 victory over Brisbane Roar in January, which came after she missed several games in the lead-up to the grand final because of her cricketing commitments.
Canberra United chief executive Heather Reid defended issuing the ultimatum which ordered Perry to quit cricket and commit full-time to the three months of the W-League season.
She said she backed coach Jitka Klimkova's new philosophy about all players putting in the same amount of effort and being treated equally.
"There's not some rules for some players and other rules for other players," Reid told AAP.
"They are a team and to allow one individual to come in and out of that team - that environment does have its challenges and impacts on morale.
"There was a feeling of being let down."
Reid admitted the situation was tough, but said Perry's popularity and celebrity wasn't enough to earn her special privileges.
"I'm being personally criticised for scoring an own-goal or shooting the team in the foot, but ... this is about increasing professionalism in women's sport, even if we're not paid in professional terms.
"You wouldn't have this same situation in rugby league where they allow a rugby union player to come in and out of the squad.
"It demonstrates some leadership and if I was a bloke, they'd probably say it takes some balls."
All up, Perry missed six of Canberra's 12 games during the 2011/12 season - her third with the club.
The Sydneysider, who is also studying a degree in economics and social sciences, has several options, but the first would be to sound out Sydney FC and assess whether they'll be more accommodating with her cricket schedule.
Reid was disappointed in the way the issue snowballed, arguing the ultimatum did not mean Perry would be lost to soccer.
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