New chief to head Soccer2

Former Motorcycling New Zealand chief executive Trevor Gill has been appointed to head Soccer2 which covers the sport in the Auckland and Counties Manukau regions.

The announcement was made by Soccer2 chairman Mark Mathews today.

"The Soccer2 Board has appointed someone with a strong sports management background and a love of the game -- in that order," Mathews said.

Gill was previously chief executive Sport Counties Manukau and was on the staff of the Hillary Commission for four years.

"Soccer has always been the number one sport in the world, its been the number one team sport for Kiwis for around five years and this brings a new set of challenges to the administration,' Gill said.

"There are around 25,000 club based registered players in Soccer2 taking part in our competitions, but this number could reach 50,000 once the schools and in-house leagues are included, as well as the ethnic and Sunday Leagues."

Gill left Motorcycling NZ after three years in the job.

Soccer2 was formed in 2000 after a merger of the former Auckland and Counties Manukau associations following a national reorganisation that resulted in the formation of seven soccer regions.

- NZPA