Havelock North AFC club president Bruce Barclay suspects those supporting Bay United won't stick around to help the region out of the hole when it inevitably falls over. Photo / File
Havelock North AFC club president Bruce Barclay suspects those supporting Bay United won't stick around to help the region out of the hole when it inevitably falls over. Photo / File
Hawke's Bay United is a "money hole" and any assertions that Central Football should continue the trend of propping up the franchise is an "incredibly tough sell".
That's the response of Havelock North AFC in Hastings as the chorus of discontent among Central Football catchment clubs grows amid other concerns about the administrative arm of the sport in the region.
"Any person who asks for or supports the idea of sinking more money into this needs to ask themselves if they have the sports best interests at heart in the region," says Havelock North president Bruce Barclay.
Barclay says the club suspects those individuals supporting the ISPS Handa Premiership franchise won't stick around to help the region out of the hole when it inevitably falls over.
"We are alarmed about the extent of the money owed," says Barclay of the $152,000 debt the Thirsty Whale-sponsored franchise team has accrued.
"It is hard to imagine any other actual organisation lending HBU an unsecured and interest-free loan to that extent."
The club supports the drive to promote and maintain a flagship team in the region but has reservations about the methods used and the outcome.
"Unfortunately the money would appear to be going to players from outside the region for a few months' service and then they leave for the next pay check [sometimes they don't even stay here during the week].
"One or maybe two token local players have come through and that is the extent of the promotion of local players," he says.
Barclay says the argument of homegrown talent not good enough to foot it in the national summer league "is a myth".
Gisborne City claimed national titles in the 1980s and Napier City Rovers emulated that feat in the 1990s and early 2000. That success came before Central Football and Bay United took over the reins of administration.
Barclay says if the two bodies are to be trusted with the development and promotion of the sport then financial accountability is imperative.
"They also need to be answerable about what direction the sport is going."
He believes investing in the viability of teams such as Team Taranaki, Palmerston North Marist and the Wanderers for a stronger presence in the Ultra Football Central League will do more to strengthen the grassroots/feeder sides in the catchment area.
The reality, he says, is those clubs have struggled without fiscal help from Central Football.
"Money is billed and taken from clubs and parents and all but it is a one-way street."
Barclay says Havelock North club have forged strong ties with many Central Football staff and respects their input.
"There are very good people working very hard for our sport and region. But we seem to have lost our way and there seems to be a strong undercurrent of discontentment."
He says the sport has a long history of importing talent and "some absolute legends from foreign soils have graced national league teams" here but they have always complimented a strong homegrown talent.
"The best of them have stayed long after football ended for them. They have become locals," he says.
"It is not about where you were born but if you care about football in the region."
Barclay says their club, like many others in the region, have seen promotional material from Central Football on major developments in Taranaki but know little about the actual plan and purpose.
While the club sees benefits in the development for Taranaki, he questions the affordability and sustainability of the exercise.
Barclay says Havelock North supports the federation training centres (FTC) winter programme if it exposes youngsters to more training with better coaches and with greater frequency.
"Yes we lose a small number of players [arguably the better players, too] but we want the individuals to do as well as they can."
Rovers board member and finance manager Graeme Sole says Bay United board members 'fobbed him off' at last two AGMs. Photo/file
Napier City Rovers, the flagship club in the Bay, are raising similar concerns on Bay United.
"I have been to the last two AGMs of Central Football and on both times I've asked the question as to why so much money is going into Hawke's Bay United and I had objected to the fees our club member pay going towards Hawke's Bay United and on both occasions I've been fobbed off by the chair and pretty well anyone in authority there," says Rovers board member and finance manager Graeme Sole, on behalf of board chairman Phil Doran who is on holiday.
"Put it this way, mate, they just didn't want to know," says Sole.
He asks what happens if Bay United tips over tomorrow?
"What concerns the club is where is all the money coming from to pay for all these import players they've got?
"When you're broke, sure to Christ you cut your cloth to fit, don't you?," Sole asks, alluding to how the WaiBOP Federation also had taken over its franchise team a few years ago but bailed out when it became a financial burden.
