Slater believes players in their prime who head to the cashed up Middle East should forfeit their spot in the national team.

His blunt assessment follows news that Melbourne Victory midfielder Billy Celeski, 28, has joined the Aussie exodus to the oil rich Gulf states.

Celeski’s lucrative move to Al Shaab was fine by the Fox Sports commentator who drew the line at similar deals brokered by Socceroos.

A fired up Slater let loose on the money-chasers who he said are trading their footballing legacy for that one big payday.

Here he gives au.fourfourtwo.com the down side of Aussies playing in the Middle East.

“I’ll say what the Middle East has going for it, and I’ll put it in a nutshell, it’s about the money,” Slater said.

“Everyone else, agents and even the players that go there can make all these excuses they want and say it’s great and this and that, but that’s all bullshit.

“I have no problem with the likes of Billy Celeski going to the Middle East to have a pay day - he’s not in our national team.

“What I do have a problem with is our national team players playing in the Middle East because I don’t think the intensity in the leagues over there is good enough for players playing international football.

"In fact, I know it’s not.”

Slater was prepared to make allowances for the likes of former Serie A player and Socceroo veteran Mark Bresciano, 33, who currently lines up for Al-Gharafa in Qatar.

“Given that he’s getting older, the intensity of European football is probably not the best for him and therefore he can go to a lower intensity league and get away with that,” Slater added.

“And he’s got enough experience to possibly get away with it for the national team.

“But I have a massive problem with players in their prime and younger players going to the Middle East.”

He saved his harshest words for World Cup hero Holman, 29, who endured a frustrating year with English Premier League side Aston Villa before putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with Dubai-based side Al Nasr.

A former star of AZ Alkmaar in the Eredivisie, Holman said the move was about securing regular first-team football ahead of next year’s world cup. But Slater described the decision as a cop out.

“He gave up – Brett Holman gave up,” he said. “Don’t get me wrong I’m a big fan of Brett Holman and always have been. But I think he gave up.

"He had one year in the Premier League and it didn’t turn out, it all got too hard, he took the money and went to the Middle East.

“I don’t begrudge anyone a payday. But when you’re playing for the national team and preparing for a World Cup, I don’t think it’s the right move.

"And you know what? When you get to the end of your career, you look back and see if you were a success or not – not how much money you’ve got.

“For me Brett Holman’s copped out. He had a good time in Holland, one year that was a bit hard in England and he’s left – taken the money in the Middle East – and I don’t rate it.

Last year Spiranovic, 25, snubbed interest from Europe to sign a two-year deal with Al-Arabi. The defender’s decision to leave the J.League’s Urawa Red Diamonds for the Qatari outfit was “ridiculous” and a “poor career move”, Slater said.

“That’s my opinion and I think most people would probably back what I’m saying. I think for a younger player it’s a poor choice. “

Ditto for Sydney FC star Brosque who, after forcing his way into Socceroos contention late in his career, left the rigours of the Japanese topflight for UAE side Al Ain.

Slater said: “I wrote a column on it saying if you play in the Middle East you shouldn’t be chosen for the Socceroos.

“Obviously it’s not up to me but that’s what I would do if I was in charge. If you go to the Middle East, fine. Take your money, take your payday but it’s not good enough for the Socceroos.”