Neill sorry for leading Heart on Lucas Neill appeared at a Sydney FC A-League training session at Macquarie Uni today. Lucas Neill uses his first press conference as a Sydney FC player to apologise to Melbourne Heart for making them think they were sure things to sign the Socceroos captain, saying he never intended to play the two clubs against each other. SOCCEROOS captain Lucas Neill has apologised to Melbourne Heart for his last-minute switch to join A-League rivals Sydney FC instead but insists money had nothing to do with the move. But a late bid by the Sky Blues swayed the veteran Sydney-born defender to renew his ties with former Socceroos coach Frank Farina who on Thursday re-signed with the Sky Blues to the end of the 2014-15 season. Neill, who has signed for just the rest of this season, wanted to "clear the air" and dismiss any rumours he walked away from the Heart deal for a bigger pay cheque. "I did give an indication that I would be excited by the opportunity of going to Melbourne," Neill said after his first training session at his new club today. There was never a case of leveraging one club against the other but when the opportunity became very real to join Sydney it was a difficult decision, but an easy one from a family point of view of being born in Sydney and raised in Sydney. And it's exciting times here at Sydney FC to commit myself to this club. As far as being gazumped at the last minute it was never a question of money. It's been well documented that Melbourne's offer was $100,000 and I've signed for $70,000 so I think we leave it at that. Neill apologised to Heart coach and former Socceroos teammate John Aloisi for misleading him but says he's looking forward to facing them at AAMI Park on Sunday. "To the Melbourne Heart board and to Johnny Aloisi and (assistant coach) Hayden (Foxe) I apologise if I gave too much of an indication that I was heading down to Melbourne and I wish them all the best," he said. In an ironic way I look forward ot playing against them or playing some part against them in Melbourne. Neill's signing is a timely boost for Sydney FC, who sit in fifth spot with seven matches remaining before the finals. Neill will line up alongside Italian superstar striker Alessandro Del Piero and Socceroos teammate Brett Emerton to add plenty of experience to an otherwise youthful squad.