Verdict on Kingz' business plan soon

A New Zealand Soccer decision on the struggling Football Kingz' business plan was likely to be "days rather than weeks" away, an NZS spokesman said today.

The business plan is a key step in the Kingz' bid to extend world body Fifa's five-year moratorium allowing the Auckland-based club to compete in the Australian National Soccer League.

Clubs are usually not permitted to play in another country's domestic competition and the moratorium expires for the Kingz at the end of this season.

The Kingz' future had been the subject of increasing speculation, with the club lacking a principal sponsor, crowd numbers dwindling and six straight losses this season.

NZS chief executive Bill MacGowan, who met Kingz general manager Peter Cox this week, said yesterday that there were "some issues" with the business plan in its present form, but did not elaborate.

"It's up to New Zealand Soccer and the Football Kingz to work through those issues to arrive at a business plan that's acceptable not just to New Zealand Soccer, but to Soccer Australia and to Fifa," he said.

"It needs to be the Kingz who come back and answer the questions we put to them on Monday."

Cox, who yesterday said it was the will of the club's owners and directors to secure the Kingz' future, directed questions today to NZS spokesman Andrew Dewhurst.

"For now both parties are sitting tight and we're just waiting for various decisions to be taken," Dewhurst said.

"It's likely to be days, rather than weeks."

Meanwhile, skipper Chris Jackson said the speculation surrounding the club's viability was not affecting him personally.

"You hear things all the time and, to be fair, a lot of it is unfounded," he said.

"You go to training and you hear something and you might follow it up with the powers that be, and they say, `No, where did you hear that?"'

Jackson said administrative matters were not really the players' concern.

"We get paid every week, the club looks after us and we just have to win on the park."

Crowdie

 

Dear Glorious Fan,

Where did you see this?

Crowdie

 

The Kingz are taking some serious heat here and it is commonly believed that SNZ will not sanction the Kingz after this year.

With the Australian domestic league's future up in the air it is not a good time for soccer in Oceania. If all our best players go overseas to play then the domestic leagues are woeful (like the NSL) but without strong domestic leagues players will go overseas. It is the chicken and egg problem all over again.

SNZ is working hard to redesign the National League so it is more like the Super 12 rugby tournament. Some clubs have been positive and some have been negative towards this.

What we need is a tournament where six to eight teams are seriously challenging for the top spot. The NSL doesn't have this and I don't believe that any replacement tournaments will have either.

Crowdie

 

I hear this alot from Australians but I watch the top teams when they come over to Auckland to play the Football Kingz and they all lack ideas in attack. Sydney United on Friday night was another example.

If we want the NSL, or whatever replaces it, to be successful then the teams need to play attractive football and to be honest, they just aren't at the moment.

Crowdie

 

Acid coming on Kingz in NSL revamp

Two Kiwi consortiums are set to challenge the Football Kingz for a place in the revamped Australian national league (NSL) next year.

Former All White Sam Malcolmson, of Auckland, and Porirua-based businessman Dave Wilson said they were keen to challenge the Kingz but were stalling until the revamped competition is ratified on January 15.

"We're sitting on our hands," Wilson said. "Until we know exactly what is happening with the league and what the Australians want, we'll keep our own counsel."

Wilson is believed to be backed by several like-minded and affluent partners but would not reveal their names.

Malcolmson is similarly backed but was also keeping identities secret.

Wilson attempted to persuade Kingz chairman Chris Turner to bring the Kingz to Wellington this season but was turned down.

He is scathing of the 2003 Kingz, saying "the brand is gone", and was disappointed the only matches the Kingz were playing outside Ericsson Stadium would be at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Wilson said should his consortium be successful, he would look to move home matches to soccer hotbeds around the country such as Palmerston North, Napier and Nelson.

Meanwhile, the Kingz plan to "clear the slate and begin afresh" in an attempt to gain a place in the revamped league which is due to kick off next October.

To grab a place - with New Zealand given a guarded guarantee of a slot from the task force report that came out last week - the Kingz have to come up with at least $A5 million for the entry fee and operating costs for the league's first year.

Kingz chief executive Peter Cox says they are confident of getting sufficient sponsorship.

"This is a really big opportunity for a fresh start the new league gives us and this is an exciting opportunity for new people to come on board."

Cox and New Zealand Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan have been working through a business plan for a month. This needs to be acceptable to NZ Soccer for it to back the club in applying for an extension of the Fifa licence to play in the Australian league.

The Kingz' season on the pitch seems to be going from bad to worse.

They lost 0-1 to Sydney United at Ericsson Stadium in Auckland on Friday night, had a player sent off and lost another to a head injury.

The injured player was central defender John Tambouras, who received seven stitches in his forehead after copping a boot as he tried to head the ball.

Sydney scored the only goal, through Labinot Haliti, minutes after Tambouras had been carried off. The Kingz' woes were increased when another defender, Glen Collins, received his marching orders early in the second half.

Sydney has struggled to score goals this season and it was easy to see why in the first half, which it dominated for long periods.

The Kingz scarcely mounted an attack and spent most of the time desperately defending their penalty area.

But Sydney was either too elaborate or shot off target time after time.

It received 15 free kicks in the first half from referee James Lewis to the Kingz' four and still was unable to get the ball into the net. Its best effort was a solo break by Franco Paresi, which was foiled by a diving save from Michael Utting.

Chris Jackson and Harry Ngata toiled bravely in midfield but once again the battlers came off second best.

Crowdie

 

Wilson wants Kingz' spot

Dave Wilson wants New Zealand's licence in the revamped Australian National Soccer League but has abandoned plans to move the Football Kingz to Wellington.


The Plimmerton businessman and former All Whites manager heads one of two Kiwi consortiums preparing to challenge the Kingz for a A$5 million (NZ$5.6 million) berth in Oceania's premier club competition.

Former All White Sam Malcolmson fronts the other bid and, like Wilson, is keeping details of his consortium secret till the reconstituted Australia Soccer Association unveils its business plan for the revamped league on January 15.

Wilson attempted to move the cash-strapped, Auckland-based Kingz to the capital earlier this year but was snubbed by majority shareholders Chris Turner and Ted Midlane.

He is now working on an independent application and intends to link it to his Ole Academy-backed bid for a berth in the revamped New Zealand national league which kicks off in October.

"It's time for a fresh start . . . we're working hard to get things right across the board," Wilson said yesterday. "We're fairly confident at the moment."

Wilson's plan is for his Ole Academy side to act as a feeder team to the Australian national league outfit.

He also hinted All Whites coach Mick Waitt could be involved in his plans, possibly as coach of the Australian NSL team.

Former Miramar Rangers coach and Kingz assistant Stu Jacobs would coach the Ole Academy side.

"We need a reserve team. Every other team in the Australian league has a reserve team while the Kingz are pulling players off the bench that haven't played for donkeys," Wilson said.

"The whole structure has to be right. I know I've had a shot at things (an Australian NSL licence) before, but things are different now. They are tougher."

Wilson hopes to provide further details of his Australian NSL bid this week but refuses to talk about his Ole Academy plans till New Zealand Soccer announces the league's eight-to-10 team makeup on April 5.

A "Team Wellington" coalition comprising Miramar Rangers, Lower Hutt City, Wellington United, Tawa, Petone and Waterside Karori is to challenge Wilson for the one Wellington berth likely to make the league.

"Our marketing strategy is not to talk again till April 5, otherwise we could end up with a lot of egg on our faces. We want the Wellington franchise to be the best in the country," Wilson said.

"It's not going to be the same application you're going to get from around the country . . . it's going to be a bit different and we want it to be a surprise."

Crowdie

 

NZS Supports The Kingz

The New Zealand Soccer Board yesterday held a meeting with interested parties to discuss the nature of the future New Zealand entity that will bid to compete in the restructured Australian National Soccer League.

Those present at yesterday’s meeting included independent businessmen Dave Wilson and Sam Malcolmson, both of whom have previously indicated a desire to form new entities to replace the Football KINGZ in the new competition. Chris Turner (KINGZ Chairman) and Peter Cox (KINGZ CEO) were also present.

After a very thorough briefing from all parties, NZS Board has decided to endorse and facilitate a bid by a restructured Football KINGZ for a place in the new Australian National Soccer League.

This decision was only taken after the NZS Board received guarantees from the Kingz that there will be a significant shareholder restructuring within the Football KINGZ organisation. NZS support for the bid is dependent on that shareholding restructure taking place, which will result in a sound financial platform for the new entity.

Chris Turner is pleased with the outcome. “I am delighted that after a lot of hard work from everyone we are all committed to the Football Kingz participating in the new restructured Australian National Soccer League.”

The restructure will see current minority shareholder Brian Katsen become the majority owner of the new entity. British based businessman Katsen is a director of England third division club Swansea City.

Crowdie