Soccer: Kingz safe - despite Aussie concern

SYDNEY - Soccer Australia has denied it has plans to dump the Football Kingz from its national league, despite concern that New Zealand should not be given the chance to hone their skills ahead of a presumed transtasman battle to qualify for the 2006 World Cup.


Former SA chairman Ian Knop, who resigned last month, believes the board should sever its ties with the Auckland-based franchise.


The Kingz have 10 All Whites in their squad and there are fears Australia could be damaging their own chances of making Germany by creating a platform for the development of New Zealand soccer.


"It's a great arrangement for them but not for us," Knop said.


"I don't believe they add strategic value. They said they would bring sponsors; they didn't. Nor did they deliver on crowds."


The Kingz have a participation agreement until the end of the 2004 NSL season, but their presence beyond that is no certainty.


NSL general manager Stefan Kamasz said an extension would be discussed by SA next year.


"Soccer Australia and New Zealand Soccer will sit down at the end of the season to assess the situation," he said.


"If Soccer Australia is of the view there is no benefit in having the Kingz in the competition, it can pull the pin."


But Kamasz said he was in favour of retaining the New Zealanders, although the "experiment has not been etched in success."


"It's fair to say they haven't been a success on the field and haven't realised their full potential."


Kamasz disagreed with Knop's assessment.


"People argue that we are helping them develop players, but the bottom line is, if we cannot beat New Zealand we don't deserve to be in the World Cup," Kamasz said.


"We have a responsibility not just to Australia but to Oceania to develop the game. If we were to dump the Kingz, there would be considerable fallout in the region, which is where we need to show the lead."


Kingz general manager Chris Turner believed the club was there to stay.


"We hear rumours all the time about being kicked out, but people must look at the big picture and forget about protecting their own patches.


"I think most Australians are in favour of us being in the competition."


The SA board met in Sydney yesterday, but the future of the Kingz was not discussed.


The Kingz are sitting in fifth spot in the 13-team NSL, a significant improvement on their performance last season when they finished last.


They have a weekend off before resuming against Sydney United in Sydney next Sunday.


- NZPA