Soccer: NZS rule puts Gould in a hole

Keryn Jordan, left, and Terry Alvino battle during Auckland City and Otago's 2-2 draw last weekend. Picture / Richard Robinson

Hawkes Bay United coach Jonathan Gould insists he will not be "banging a drum" but admits to some concerns over a New Zealand Soccer ruling that will cost him four players for third- and fourth-round NZFC matches.

Determined to rebuild after a disastrous 2005-6 season, Gould pitched his recruitment drive at younger players in the hope they would bring some vitality to the Park Island-based franchise.

They gave an early hint that he might be on the right track, battling hard before going down 2-1 at highly fancied Canterbury United in the season opener.

But the naming of the New Zealand A team to play next week's Agribank Cup in Vietnam has brought mixed emotions for Gould, who will travel as the team's goalkeeping coach. He has lost Ian Hogg, Phil Edginton, Leo Shin and Sam Jenkins to the team who leave on Sunday. The Bay side, to be coached by Gould's father Bobby in his absence, will be without the quartet for matches against Auckland City (away) on Monday and YoungHeart Manawatu next week.

"I would never step in the way of a player," said Gould. "I could have withdrawn them but they come first."

The match against Auckland, and last year's golden boot winner Keryn Jordan, will be a real test for Hawkes Bay, given Hogg and Edginton are two key defenders.

NZFC manager Glyn Taylor confirmed there would be no dispensation for Hawkes Bay. "He [Gould] did ask for dispensation to be considered," said Taylor, "but there is no time to play catch-up games. He targeted a number of under-20 players in putting his team together and they have now been selected for the A team."

Gould sounded out Auckland City on a switch of dates but, with their heavy programme - including December's World Club Championship in Japan - there was no way to re-schedule Monday's game.

Gould said: "No way am I happy, but we have to get on with it. In any other country any club team losing more than two players to a national side would be granted dispensation."

It is particularly hard on Gould as his four [A team] players played in their season opener and have been named for tomorrow's home game against Team Wellington.

All teams will have national squad players available for tomorrow's second round matches but some clubs will have players with an eye firmly on Sunday's departure for the Vietnam tournament, which kicks-off on Wednesday.

Auckland City defender James Pritchett, who did show something close to his best form in an otherwise tentative opening effort by the defending champions, is the only City player in the squad.

City are at Manawatu tomorrow in what promises to be a tight affair, pairing the top two teams from last season's round-robin - but with new coaches.

New Manawatu coach Shane Rufer has New Zealand A striker Nick Roydhouse on the bench while Pritchett is set to start for City.

Waitakere coach Steve Cain has left Michael Gwyther, another A team striker, out of his line-up for tomorrow's home game with Canterbury, who have named national squad member Jack Pelter in their team.

Encouraged by their first-up away win over Waikato FC, Waitakere will be looking for more of the same in their return to Trusts Stadium for the match-of-the-day clash with Danny Halligan's Canterbury.

Waikato face the toughest test of the long weekend with away games against Otago United and Canterbury. At least new coach Dave Edmondson will have all his players available for both games as he has not lost any to the national side.


Fixtures

Third round (Monday): Auckland v Hawkes Bay 3pm, Manawatu v Otago 1pm, Wellington v Waitakere 3pm, Canterbury v Waikato 2pm.