Soccer: European club after Rufer as coach

By TERRY MADDAFORD

A week after one of their best players walked out, the Football Kingz socccer team are now faced with the possibility of losing one of their greatest assets - player-coach Wynton Rufer.

On his return from a National Soccer League meeting in Sydney yesterday, Rufer confirmed that he had been approached by a European club with an offer of a coaching-only role in the new Northern Hemisphere season.

Last week, Kingz midfielder Dino Mennillo walked out of the club to return to Australia in a dispute that could finish up before a grievance tribunal this week.

But Rufer said he had laid his cards on the table in making Kingz directors John Batty and Chris Turner aware of the offer.

"I'll probably have to decide by the end of the week one way or the other," said Rufer, who has a one-year contract with the Auckland-based franchise.

"A lot could depend on the outcome of talks between the Kingz and their proposed equity partner.

"I came back to New Zealand to help and I'm prepared to stay, but maybe they don't want me. The smart clubs in Europe are preparing for the new season now, so that's why they called me.

"Once you get involved in the international professional scene, offers will come. Whether or not you are considered a good coach does not appear to come into it. Look at Glenn Hoddle."

The Kingz would be in no hurry to lose Rufer and his brother, Shane, who have co-coached the team in their first NSL season.

"The coaches I spoke to at the meeting in Sydney think we are doing very well," Rufer said. "Most expected the Kingz to finish in the bottom three."

They are now in eighth position.

Apart from Mennillo's unexpected departure, the Kingz have also had to wrestle with other problems, including the sidelining of their two Chileans, the delay in paying players in December, a wrangle over air fares on the eve of their last overseas trip, disputes over what players alleged were unpaid bonuses and rent, and poor crowds at home matches.

Turner has acknowledged that the club has had problems but is confident the impending signing of an equity partner - regularly tipped as Sky Television - and the arrival on time of sponsorship dues this month will go a long way to resolving such hiccups.