Soccer: Kings facing early defection

By Terry Maddaford

The Football Kings could be embroiled in a transfer wrangle before a ball is kicked in their first Australian national soccer league season.

Reports from Australia yesterday confirmed that All Whites midfielder Gavin Wilkinson and a former Perth Glory team-mate are having trials with English first-division club Barnsley.

Football Kings chairman Chris Turner said the report of Wilkinson's trial was news to him, but added that the club would not stand in his way if he was offered a contract.

"But as a contracted Kings player, there would be a transfer fee involved," Turner said. "He has signed a contract with the Kings and is due to report for training on August 16."

It is understood Danny Hay's impending transfer from Perth Glory to English premier club Leeds United - provided Hay obtains a work permit - could earn his Australian club about $1 million.

Apparently, Hay has a back-up offer from German first-division club Stuttgart if he is unable to get a permit to play in England.

Turner will fly to Sydney this morning for a meeting of Ericsson Cup clubs to discuss the season's proposed draw.

Some clubs are unhappy with plans for midweek games and a scheduled round on New Year's Eve. The clubs will push at this morning's meeting to extend the season by three weeks, with a June 18 grand final.

Turner, who had been assured by league boss Stefan Kamasz at the time of the Kings' launch of a home game in the league's opening round, will have to work through that this morning.

The draft draw has the Kings away to the Canberra Cosmos on Sunday, October 3, although Canberra have asked for a switch to Friday night.

"We were told we would be at home against a high-profile team," Turner said. "This is something I'm sure we can sort out."

Canberra, the least successful team in the league's history, hardly fit that billing.

The Kings are due to play the league's other newcomers, Parramatta Power, in the second round. That game is scheduled for Auckland but that could change if the opening match is switched.

In games already scheduled for October 1, the opening day of the new season, Carlton, with All Whites Sean Douglas and Mark Atkinson among their players, are set to play Gippsland Falcons in Melbourne and Parramatta are scheduled for a home game against Marconi Fairfield.

"We want to play as many of our home games at North Harbour Stadium on Friday nights as possible," Turner said. "Hopefully the meeting in Sydney will sort it out."

Turner also hopes to complete the signing of two European-based Australian players this weekend.

The team's first official training session will be on August 23.

"We intend naming our major sponsor next week and reveal our playing strip the following week. We have still heard nothing from Australian basketball franchise the Sydney Kings over what they see as a clash of names and are just continuing with our planning."

It seems two New Zealand referees and two linesmen will be invited on to the Ericsson Cup panel.