Thistle lifeline for Team Gizzy

Ron Young

GISBORNE Thistle AFC chairman Ronnie Young will meet with Team Gisborne board members next week in the hope they reconsider their decision to withdraw the Pacific Premiership champions from the 2016 competition.

“Failing that — and I’m speaking as an individual not Thistle chairman — I would love it if Team Gisborne could be run under the Thistle banner,” Young said.

“Everything is set in place and we’ve (Thistle) supported the Team Gisborne concept — to field a composite team and provide a pathway to bigger and better things for players 15 to 20 years old — from the beginning.

“I believe it’s time to take the next step. It’s not just about young players, it’s about doing what is good for football in Gisborne, which is why I and others would prefer to enter a team in the 2016 Lotto Central Federation Premier League (CFPL).

“That would be dependent on a major sponsor and we already have a club member looking into that. I’ve spoken to a number of players and former players who want to see Team Gisborne play in a higher league.

“Failing that I’m keen for Thistle to field a team in the Pacific league but it would have to be passed at committee level.”

Young, who played at national league level for Gisborne City, said a local coach had already put his hand up for the job.

“I don’t want to name him at this stage. There are still some things to be sorted. If things do work out I think it would be great for all the players who aspire to play at a higher level.”

Sunshine Brewery Team Gisborne have won the Pacific Premiership three times in the past four years. But while senior players wanted to take the team to the next level — the CFPL — the five-man Team Gisborne board decided unanimously against that option.

At the time, board member and former Team Gisborne player-coach David Ure said “You couldn’t fault them (senior players) for that”.

Board understands the playersUre said the board fully understood where the players were coming from.

“Playing in the Central Federation Premier League would be the next logical step but it would also involve more commitment from players, more travelling time, more time away from families and more overnight stays, which means more money.”

Skipper and rightback Liam Ryan said he supported Young in his efforts to field a team in the CFPL.

“Absolutely,” said Ryan, who attended a training session involving members of the squad who won the title. “It wasn’t just the senior players training, some of the younger players and some new blood were there. We talked though the options and we’ll do whatever we can to put a team in the Fed League. Last year’s squad earned the right to go up.”

Ryan (35) said he was keeping his options open should Young be successful.

“I’ll carry on playing, as long as whoever coaches the team wants me. I’m also keen to support the new coach in an assistant player-coach role, again, if I’m wanted.”

Central Football chairman Phil Holt said he would be keen to see the federation league expand to 10 teams from eight teams.

However, he pointed out that it would have a financial impact on all the clubs involved.

“While there is a travel equalisation fund it is probably only as big as the sponsorship money Central Football receives from Lotto for the fed league. If sponsorship was $1000 and there are only eight teams, then there is more money in the travel pot than if there were 10 teams.”

Holt said the final make-up of the 2016 federation league would be decided by the Central Football development committee.

“Clubs would have to be very confident they could meet the financial cost of taking part and the costs of not fulfilling their obligations to remain in the competition in its entirety.

“I would have thought an easier step would be for the teams to enter the Pacific Premiership. It would be less of a financial burden and they could test the waters with respect to the standard of competition they would get.”