Soccer: Kingz keen to hear business plan for new league

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Chris Turner is confident the Football Kingz can raise the almost $5 million they will need to compete in the first season of the revamped Australian national league.

But for the Kingz and other clubs looking to be part of the planned high-profile competition, much will depend on the new Australian Soccer Association - the replacement for Soccer Australia - delivering on their promised January 15 deadline to unveil a finite business plan, which will include business and media partners.

"Once we have that, and it is going to be tight for them to come back to us so soon, we can then go into the market place," Turner, the chairman of the board, said yesterday.

"If it all stacks up - and they are confident they can deliver - I'm certain it will be easier to raise that kind of money than it is for us now as we try to find the $1.2 million to $1.3 million to operate our very tight budget, because after January 15 we will have something to sell."

Turner said that once the key partners were known, the Kingz can talk to investors with a clear idea of what is required.

"The league hasn't had a major sponsor since Ericsson pulled out. That certainly hasn't helped anyone," he added.

While the task force has recommended a New Zealand team be part of the new set-up, Turner said the Kingz would still require a Fifa licence to compete in another country's competition. Having met the other clubs in Australia last Monday, when the terms of reference were announced, Turner said there was general delight at what is seen to be a completely new start.

"These changes were long overdue.

"We have had our problems, but so have other clubs. I'm confident we will be in it [the new league] so long as we meet the same criteria as the rest."

Turner scotched any suggestion that another New Zealand entity could pitch for a place in the league.

"As I see it, if the Kingz can't get up, there won't be a New Zealand team.

"From my point of view, after being at that meeting, we are the only New Zealand club being considered.

"New Zealand Soccer are with us and I'm sure they will offer every support to make certain we are there."

Although he was not in a position to say where the $5 million would come from, Turner insisted that if the ASA deliver what it says it will on January 15, the money will be found.

He said all clubs were unanimous they needed that information by that date.

Clubs have until April 30 to confirm their bid for a licence in the new league.

They will then be subjected to stringent criteria checks with the view of announcing the successful clubs by June 30 for a November start next year.

That will come back to October in future years.

"We don't have anything to go knocking on doors with until that time," Turner said.

"That business plan and the partners associated with it are the key. The first question any potential sponsor/investor will ask is, 'What's the TV deal?' At present we can't tell them."

Turner said he understood talks had already begun with three major prospective television channels in Australia.

While 10 was seen as perhaps the preferred number of teams in the new league, it is by no means definite.

As an example, Turner said three different consortiums in Adelaide have expressed interest, but the task force are recommending just one team from there.

He said he felt there was a consensus that clubs do not want a bye. If they stayed with the recommended 10 teams they would play three rounds.

"The feeling is that as professionals, the clubs are not playing enough games."

The round-robin matches will be followed by playoffs and a grand final in May.