Player coach best option for United, says Keinzley

A player-coach would be best for Wairarapa United leading into the 2011 central league football season, says club president Phil Keinzley.
Keinzley retired from the coaching role after Wairarapa United completed this season's central league campaign with an impressive 4-2 win over Western Suburbs on Saturday, leaving them in third place overall.
Keinzley believes that while a player-coach isn't the ideal situation, it would kill two birds with one stone.
Not only would it boost the playing resources for the premier side, it would mean the successful applicant, who would be employed on a fulltime basis, would be able to coach a development team and an elite squad, hopefully containing the region's top players in the 10-14 year age group.
The latter would continue to play for their own clubs while receiving specialised tuition.
Just when the new central league coach will be appointed is still to be confirmed, but Keinzley is anticipating significant interest with at least three members of Wairarapa United's current squad possibly putting their names forward, and other inquiries being received from outside.
Keinzley is also expecting the bulk of the 2010 central league team to be available for selection next year although that could change if the immigration hassles involving five of their players don't have a happy ending.
"Right now we are very optimistic things will work out favourably but there is still no certainty, we are keeping our fingers crossed," Keinzley said.
Assessing Wairarapa United's third placing on the central league table, Keinzley gave credit to his players after they lost their first three games when stocks were depleted.
"Quite honestly we were capable of beating anyone at full strength ... I guess that will always be a frustration."
Keinzley was "rapt to bits" with the public support given to his side and said they were "spoiled" by media coverage compared to their counterparts.
He did, however, voice disappointment that Wairarapa United would not have been able to contest this season's central league football competition had it been reliant on district council support.
The agreement reached with Masterton AFC to make the latter's Hullena Park headquarters double as their home base had avoided "huge embarrassment" for them.
"We owe Masterton AFC a big debt, they were an absolute lifesaver for us,"Keinzley said.
"Without them we would have had nowhere suitable to go."
Keinzley said the Wairarapa football community in general was not well served by the three district councils operating in the Wairarapa region with ground maintenance and other important amenities such as changing rooms all too often below par.
For instance Wairarapa United had been told the Pugh Sports Bowl in Masterton would become available for their seconds team. But with the 2010 season ending they had not been able to host even one home game there.
"I don't know why it is, but football is clearly getting the worst end of the stick over the whole of the Wairarapa," Keinzley said. "It's a growing sport and we need the councils to recognise that, and quickly too."
Keinzley was also concerned at the lack of volunteers willing to help out administratively at United, with just a handful of people offering regular support in that regard.