Boost to Down Under soccer

By TOM CLARKE

Top New Zealand sports people, such as Football Kingz soccer players, may now have a better chance of achieving overseas success, says Murray Wright, of Carnegie Sports International Ltd.

Mr Wright has just become managing director of the sports management and marketing company.

Carnegie has been appointed to handle marketing, sponsorship and hospitality services for the Sydney-based Australian National Soccer League (NSL) team Northern Spirit, which is now owned by the Scottish soccer club, Glasgow Rangers.

Carnegie and Glasgow Rangers are both owned by Murray International Holdings, Scotland's largest privately-owned company.

Mr Wright says clubs like Glasgow Rangers see investment in professional clubs in other parts of the world as one way of extending their brand.

It also gives them access to a stream of young new players coming through local professional leagues, in this case the NSL which also includes the New Zealand-based Football Kingz.

Mr Wright says the Glasgow Rangers' investment in Northern Spirit will give a tremendous boost to the league.

"People don't realise the opportunities which that investment brings for soccer in New Zealand and Australia," he says.

"In the past, players coming through the junior levels have had nothing to aim for, but now they have a professional soccer league that provides a career path for them.

"They can play professional soccer in Australia and if they obviously shine out, there are opportunities for them to move on to contracts with Rangers."

Mr Wright says the leading British soccer club Manchester United is also looking for investment opportunities around the world.

This is something that will happen a lot more often in different sports, he believes.

Could Super 12 rugby franchises such as the Auckland Blues move into private hands?

"That's an interesting question," says Mr Wright.

"They are franchises at the moment and the possibility (of private ownership) could happen in the longer term."

Mr Wright has a marketing background and was national advertising and marketing manager of Hannahs until 1990 when he joined Auckland Rugby as chief executive officer.

In 1996 he formed and ran his own company, Sport Management Group, which was bought by Carnegie two years ago.

Since then, he has worked as a consultant to the company.

In his new role he replaces former All Black Grant Fox who has withdrawn from day-to-day management to concentrate on his rugby coaching career. Mr Fox becomes chairman of the company.

Former Silver Fern and netball commentator Julie Coney, who has been with the company for 14 years, becomes a director.

The new local board also includes David Murray, chairman of Glasgow Rangers and Carnegie's parent company, Murray International Holdings; Trevor Perry, former managing director of Prudential Australasia; and Auckland investment banker, Graham Jackson. Former All Black Joe Stanley also works for the company.