Soccer: Club warned off on poaching

SYDNEY - South Melbourne are unconcerned about losing three of their senior players to the Football Kingz, but have warned the New Zealand club to stay away from signing any young talent.

Former Socceroo and Marconi coach Eddie Krncevic was named yesterday as South Melbourne's new coach.

He replaces Mike Petersen, who has shifted to the Kingz and taken three South players - Andy Vlahos, Con Boutsianis and Vas Kalogeracos - with him.

South president George Vasilopoulos said his club would not miss the three players, who are all in their late 20s.

"The players Mike Petersen signed are those who were not wanted in Melbourne,"he said.

"They were free to leave. They're all getting on and they were demanding $A100,000 [$124,000] to $A150,000.

"We've been running clubs for a long time and I can assure you that money is not in soccer.

"Those players could not assist the philosophy of the club because our policy is a youth policy.

"We are going to develop and promote youth."

South Melbourne are the most successful club in Australia.

Last season, Petersen took them to the minor premiership and they were beaten by Wollongong in the final.

Vasilopoulos said all his players had now signed contracts, and he warned the Kingz to keep their hands off.

"If Mike Petersen or anyone from the Kingz approaches any of the South Melbourne players, they would be poaching. There are laws against that."

He said his anxiety was justified because the Kingz had signed Petersen late last season, even though he still had a year to run on his contract.

"They should have had the courtesy to speak to us.

"They showed disrespect by approaching the coach of a club who were about to embark on the top-six playoffs, without getting permission from the club.

"That means they either had complete disregard for my club or they didn't know the rules. "

Vasilopoulos did not want to harbour a grudge against the Kingz, who he believed were welcome arrivals in the NSL.

He would never forget the attitude of the Kingz supporters who stayed on to applaud both teams from the field in their final home match of last season, even though South Melbourne had thrashed them 6-1.

However, he said it was probably that match that inspired Kingz officials to chase Petersen and some of his players

- NZPA