Soccer: NZ Soccer looks to buy into Kingz

1.00pm

New Zealand Soccer (NZS) boss Bill MacGowan will meet Football Kingz benefactor Brian Katzen in London next month with an eye to buying into the Auckland-based club, the Dominion Post newspaper reported today.

The Australian Soccer Association has "suggested" NZS seeks a shareholding in the Kingz, who are earmarked for the revamped eight-team Australian national league.

Victoria and New South Wales have taken similar roles with franchises bidding for spots in the league under their respective umbrellas.

"We understand what they (Australia) want for the entity going forward and we've got an interest in that (a shareholding)," MacGowan told the Wellington newspaper. He will meet Katzen on May 17.

The development has caught Kingz general manager Guy Hedderwick by surprise.

"I didn't know a national body could take a share in any club under Fifa regulations but I guess NZ Soccer may be different because it's only one team," Hedderwick said.

"I think it could be an interesting concept but I don't know what Brian thinks. We're certainly working toward a closer working relationship with NZ Soccer but if Brian wants to sell some shares, it's his decision."

Hedderwick understands the Australian Soccer Association will advertise for expressions of interest for a licence in the new league on Monday.

It will then send out criteria before announcing the successful applicants in August.

It is understood there will be a condensed league from next January to August to find Australia's representative for the Oceania world club championship playoff in Tahiti before the competition is played in full from August 2005 to May 2006 to mirror the northern hemisphere season.

Hedderwick is confident the Kingz will meet all the league's criteria.

- NZPA