Soccer: Auckland hope share plan pays dividends

Try as he might, it's hard for James Pritchett to hide his smile when he thinks about the $20,000 windfall he's in line to collect this afternoon.

The Auckland City right-back doubles as a struggling window washer and wannabe professional footballer and the cash would make a big difference to the bank account of the 23-year-old.

Auckland City meet Tahiti's AS Pirae in today's final of the Oceania Club Champs with a guaranteed US$1m heading the way of the winners. If City win, 30 per cent of the money will go to the club, 30 per cent to the other NZFC clubs, 10 per cent to New Zealand Soccer and, crucially for Pritchett and his team-mates, 30 per cent to the players.

Auckland have also devised a spreadsheet on how the players' split would be allocated, with those involved in the NZFC in line to share in 50 per cent of the cash and players in the Oceania club champs entitled to some of the remaining 50 per cent.

Each player has been allocated points based on starts, substitute appearances, and even squad members who might not have played a game are in line to share the spoils.

Under that formula, Pritchett, who was Auckland's Player of the Year, would be one of the higher earners along with goalkeeper Ross Nicholson because of his heavy involvement in both tournaments.

"It would help tremendously to have a bit more cash," the livewire defender admitted. "It means a lot but it has to be in the back of our minds.

"It's not that easy because there's not really a prize like this in New Zealand football but the first thing is to win it, then think about it afterwards."

For coach Allan Jones, the game will be his last game in charge of City after three successful years at the club before he takes up his post as the national women's coach.

In that time, he's established Auckland as the premier club in the competition having delivered the first two NZFC titles to Kiwitea St.

"It will be an appropriate way for me to go out if we win on Sunday," he said. "It's been a most enjoyable three years... but I feel justified in leaving now because I have left a good legacy for the club to build on."

If City win today, new coach Roger Wilkinson will take them to Japan in December to face the likes of Barcelona in the World Club Champs.

Auckland have doubts over Greg Uhlmann (ankle) and Liam Mulrooney (groin) but Pirae will be without captain Naea Bennetts who, as a Mormon, doesn't play on Sundays. Auckland beat Pirae 1-0 earlier in the tournament.

Manawatu play Fiji's Eagles United in the third-fourth playoff.