Soccer: Kingz don't mention P-word

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Talk of the play-offs remains a dirty word around Football Kingz bosses, despite their team having the chance to make the top six of the National Soccer League as early as Thursday night.

Kingz chairman Chris Turner last night backed coaches Wynton and Shane Rufer in their refusal to speculate on their team's chances, saying there was no discussion around the club about the play-offs.

"All along we have insisted we wanted to show everyone we are competitive and, within our resources, put out the best possible team each week," said Turner.

"If we give it 100 per cent every week, we are confident we will get it right. But so far, in terms of consistency, we haven't done that.

"We have only won two in a row once this season. It is more important to address that than think about the top six."

At a time when the public have just about given up on the Auckland Warriors, many see the Kingz as something more positive and a chance to make their mark.

Turner agreed that those people would see making the play-offs as the only real measure of success, but said the club wanted its coaches and players to concentrate on their job.

He had had "a lot of discussions" with Warriors chief executive Trevor McKewen. "Hopefully we can learn the good and bad from their experiences."

The Kingz have a busy schedule ahead.

They play Adelaide Force at North Harbour Stadium on Thursday night before heading to Australia for Sunday's catch-up with Perth Glory. They are back in Australia the following weekend to play Gippsland Falcons before their Friday night game against Marconi at Ericsson Stadium on April 7.

Their other catch-up game is against Parramatta Power at North Harbour on April 19.

While Turner still refuses to put a date on the completion of due diligence and with it the deal with Sky Television Network, it seems it might be sooner rather than later and possibly ahead of the supposed March 31 deadline.