KEY POINTS:
A second New Zealand team permanently in the Oceania Champions League remains a real possibility after New Zealand Soccer was this week handed a second spot in next year's tournament.
The idea has been mooted for some time and is now likely to go back to the Oceania Football Confederation's executive in January for consideration.
It would give a second New Zealand Football Championship team a guaranteed shot at the big pay day awaiting all teams who qualify for Fifa's Club World Cup.
"There might be some of the island nations who would consider a second New Zealand team as being unfair," said NZS chief executive Graham Seatter. "But if you look at other Champions Leagues around the world, the bigger and stronger countries have more teams playing.
"Oceania's reasoning is based on what happens in Europe where some countries, like England and Spain, obviously have more teams winning through than the small nations."
Seatter remains adamant that the second team, if approved, would come from the NZFC but how that team is found has yet to be discussed.
There was some confusion this week when some felt that the wording of the conditions of entry to the OFC Champions League opened the way for the winner of the Chatham Cup to play in the league.
"That assumption was made by some people reading a draft document. It was unfortunate it was seen that way," said Seatter. "It was certainly never the intention that Western Suburbs [this year's Chatham Cup winner] would be part of the Champions League."
OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas said "we are partly to blame in that because the regulations are not really clear".
The rules would "be tidied up next time".
All teams for the 2008 Oceania League will be known by July next year which, he insists, will make for a more orderly preparation.
"The addition of Waitakere has certainly added interest to the O League," said Nicholas. "Ongoing, we feel a second New Zealand team would add value to the competition but it may mean we would need to go from six to eight teams."
Nicholas said he had some concerns about the prizemoney split for the qualifying team.
"It appears to be causing some problems and I think New Zealand Soccer will probably look at that in future."
It is widely accepted that New Zealand Soccer is keen to promote younger players. At present, with such high stakes, clubs with a chance of the big payout are, naturally, intent on assembling the strongest possible squads and youth is being given little, if any, opportunity to play at this level.
Seatter said yesterday that while the makeup of the NZFC for the next three years would be discussed at next week's board meeting, a final decision might not be taken then.
Recommendations from Seatter and chairman John Morris are likely to be tabled at the meeting.
"While we would hope to make a decision then, we might take a couple of weeks to come to a final conclusion if we felt that time was needed," said Seatter.
Of a likely appeal from Auckland City over the decision which confirmed the loss of their three points for playing an ineligible player against Waitakere, Seatter said the club [Auckland City] were expected to confirm there would be no appeal as mooted this week.
The spotlight, hopefully, can now go back on to the field and the eighth round weekend action.
All games hold some interest with Auckland City away to Otago United in what could be the match of the round. After their 1-0 home win over Team Wellington, City will be keen to kick on but a coach for the team has not yet been confirmed.
GOLDEN BOOT
9: Benjamin Totori (YoungHeart Manawatu)
3: Peter Halstead (Team Wellington), Commins Menapi (Waitakere United), Ian Robinson (YoungHeart Manawatu), Grant Young (Auckland City).
2: Andy Barron, David Batty (Wellington), Patrick Fleming, Jindrich Hahn (Otago), Dean Gordon, Keryn Jordan, Bryan Little, Ross McKenzie, Paul Seaman (Auckland), Matt Williams (Waikato FC), Hoani Edwards (Waitakere United), Hayden Laird, Trent Watson (Manawatu), Henry Fa'arodo, Nathan Knox (Canterbury United).
