Soccer: Kingz, Rufers talk turkey on new deals

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Football Kingz chairman Chris Turner refuses to be drawn on issues which have come under the microscope as Wynton and Shane Rufer negotiate a second term at the helm of New Zealand's only professional soccer team.

"We made a formal offer to them and they have come back with a counter-offer," Turner said yesterday. "We put a contract in front of them and they came back to me on Monday night."

Asked whether money was a sticking point, Turner said: "No comment."

He did say, however, that potentially they were being offered much the same as their existing contract. "Whatever is in that remains between them and us."

Turner said the contract ran until the end of the season but the club hoped to have a new agreement in place well before that.

"There is a lot to be done in the off-season in planning for the new one and we want to have these kind of things sorted out as quickly as possible.

"We already have a draft budget in place for next year and once the deal with Sky Television is in place - and we hope that will be sooner rather than later - we can get on with things.

"Effectively, as an organisation, we are talking to players about next season," Turner said. "While there is no salary cap, it does not mean we will pay more for players.

"They can ask for more, obviously, but we are a business and treat things accordingly. There are clearly provisions for bonuses if they make the play-offs."

Of the current squad, Harry Ngata, Jason Batty, Chris Jackson and Riki Van Steeden are on two-year contracts. The remaining players were signed for just one season.

Wynton Rufer was signed as player-coach for the 1999-2000 season. It is understood his draft contract for the new season is on the same lines.

"While we are talking to both Wynton and Shane, it does not necessarily mean we have to have a package deal with both," Turner said.

"But the bottom line is, we are very keen to retain both of them and I'm sure with the only minor discussion points that have been raised we will do that."