Soccer: Kingz have to do it right

By TERRY MADDAFORD in Sydney

Gaining the five-year licence to play in Australia's much-hyped Australian league might be the easy part for the Football Kingz.

Minutes after their place in the Hyundai A-League had been confirmed in Sydney yesterday, Kingz chairman Anthony Lee and club general manager Guy Hedderwick starting talking it up.

They have already shelled out A$500,000 to get this far. They must pay the same again early next year. In all, there might not be a lot of change out of $4 million by the time the first ball is kicked.

And this to play in a competition with no prizemoney and, for the Auckland-based club, no opportunity to play in the Oceania or Fifa club championships.

Lee was not procrastinating on this. Rather, he saw it as the chance for New Zealand soccer players to carve out a professional career.

"Now we have been given the chance, we have to make the most of it for the game in New Zealand," Lee said. "We have to do it right. There is no second chance.

"We will advertise for a manager and coach very soon. Unlike other clubs we are not going to race around and sign up players. We feel we have to get the right people at the top first and go from there.

"Sure, we might end up going offshore to fill these critical roles, but we won't do that until we have had a good look at the New Zealand market."

Unlike past leagues, there will be no restriction on the number of overseas players in the eight teams. Again. Lee is insistent local players will be given every opportunity."

The Kingz - and indications are that the name might not survive as the club attempts to cut ties with the old in "rebranding the new" - are starting "with a clean sheet".

The club will return to North Harbour Stadium - a ground rated at yesterday's announcement up there with Suncorp Stadium, Aussie Stadium and possibly Melbourne's Telstra Dome - but their base might go, with New Zealand Soccer, to Ericcson Stadium.

"Our memorandum of understanding with New Zealand Soccer is very important," Hedderwick said. "Just as is our unique position of having all resources from within the game in New Zealand to call on."

Hedderwick said other decisions, including kick-off times, playing strip, and number of overseas players will not be made for some time.

Under the new rules, teams will be able to incorporate a sponsor's name in their name.

That could become one of the more interesting side issues for the eight clubs ahead of next August's kick-off.

Teams will play each other three times a season - a total of 21 regular-season matches.

Finals between the four top sides will be played from February 2006.

Each club will be restricted to 20 players, including three under 20, who must come in under a A$1.5million salary cap.

There is, however, provision for a marquee player and guest players outside this.

The highest-profile name to be associated with a franchise so far is former England and Socceroos coach Terry Venables.

Newcastle United owner Con Constantine yesterday confirmed that Venables would be the club's coach and would arrive in Australia within a month to take up his position.

- Additional reporting NZPA