Soccer: Kingz at mercy of ex-ARU boss

By TERRY MADDAFORD

The man many New Zealanders still love to hate following last year's Rugby World Cup co-hosting fiasco will be welcomed with open arms in Auckland next week.

John O'Neill, who moved to the Australian Soccer Association after the World Cup, will meet the principals behind the Football Kingz bid for a place in the new Australian Premier League.

O'Neill, the ASA chief executive, and Matt Carroll, one of many former Australian Rugby Union administrators to swap codes, and the league's manager, will be courted by Kingz representative Guy Hedderwick and John Morris and Bill MacGowan - the chairman and chief executive of New Zealand Soccer on Tuesday.

They will meet at North Harbour Stadium, which further suggests the Kingz are preparing a return to their old Albany base.

London-based Brian Katzen, who will confirm his majority shareholding in the Kingz once their place in the new league is confirmed, will be absent from Tuesday's meeting but has expressed his confidence in Hedderwick and NZS chiefs to convey his feelings and plans.

"They [Hedderwick and MacGowan] have been working closely on the application document for some months and we have what I believe to be a compelling case for inclusion in the new competition," Katzen said. "I have kept in regular contact with both and am more than happy with our progress."

Katzen has described the relationship between the bodies as crucial to the future success of the club.

"It has taken some months but during that time we have built a strong working relationship.

"The memorandum of understanding signed by both parties will lead to New Zealand Soccer playing a role as shareholder," said Katzen. " It will advise the Kingz in areas such as coaching appointments, board structure, media support and event management."

Katzen confirmed there was every probability of the two parties sharing business premises at North Harbour Stadium.

"Recent developments have been most positive for both parties," said Morris. "They [Hedderwick and Katzen] have worked diligently and openly through some difficult times to the point where we welcome the visit from the Australian Soccer Association."

O'Neill and Carroll are on a round of visits to all 12 bidding parties. The make-up of the eight-team league should be known by September.