Soccer: Auckland City assemble a potent strike force

Defending New Zealand Football Champions Auckland City have fired the season's opening shot by signing South African striker Keryn Jordan.

Jordan's arrival will give City the top three goalscorers from last season's NZFC when he joins fellow South African Grant Young and former All Whites striker Paul Urlovic.

Asked whether he felt the club might have trouble finding room for the trio - who scored 44 goals between them in the 2004-05 season - City chairman Ivan Vuksich said: "[Coach] Allan [Jones] would like to play three up front. I think it [signing Jordan] is a good idea.

"Other clubs are bringing players in from overseas," said Vuksich, who added City had also signed Luis del Monte (from Manawatu), Sam Wilkinson (from Waikato) and Nick Hyde, who is playing his winter football at East Coast Bays.

From last season's squad, City have lost Rupesh Puna (injured), Jonathon Rowe (to Wellington), Darren Young (overseas), Sam Jasper (NZ Knights), Michael Gwyther (injured) and possibly Heath McCormack.

City's gain has been Waitakere United's loss, although Vuksich points out Jordan was really a Gisborne City (his winter club) player.

Questioned about the cost of bringing Jordan to the club, Vuksich said: "We don't pay anybody other than a bit of petrol money. You might be missing the point. You can't go into money wars with anyone.

"The only way to attract players to your club is to create an environment for them.

"Good facilities, a good pitch, Thursday dinners, the way they and their family are treated. We have gone out of our way to do this.

"Talk of a huge signing on fee is absolute rubbish," Vuksich said.

The switch of clubs has not gone down well at Waitakere.

Club chairman Rex Dawkins, issued a written statement stating: "I was bitterly disappointed when our head coach Steve Cain told me he received a text message from Keryn Jordan saying he would be playing at Auckland City this summer.

"I have lost total respect for Keryn and Auckland City for the way this has been handled, especially when Keryn had given me a verbal assurance he would be committed to Waitakere United for the forthcoming season."

He said it "was about time" there were regulations to ensure consultation between clubs "as several of our players have been approached by Auckland City in recent weeks".

NZFC manager Glyn Taylor said the matter was being addressed.

"We are putting some regulations in place to add some transparency.

"I'm disappointed for Waitakere over the way it has happened. Receiving a text message is disappointing."

He has already looked at the regulations.

"The changes we are proposing read 'coaches shall not approach players and players shall not approach coaches, in either case either directly or indirectly for the purpose of attempting to entice that player or coach to transfer from the club [franchise] where they currently or most recently associated without having obtained the consent in writing from the chairman of that club'."

The change, due to come into effect in forthcoming weeks, will not be retrospective.