KEY POINTS:
The Wellington consortium behind the prospective New Zealand A-League franchise does not have the money.
Bid spokesman John Dow has confirmed they have around A$1.1m, well short of the A$2m mark demanded by Football Federation Australia.
It has left Dow wondering whether it is worth continuing with the final deadline tomorrow. He says quite frankly the thing that has kept them going is that they understand the responsibility that is on their shoulders.
Dow says they will be trying to talk to the FFA today.
Townsville's Tropical Football - with New Zealand's Oceania Player of the Century Wynton Rufer as coach - were yesterday asked to formalise a bid for the spot previously held by the New Zealand Knights.
Asked how quickly they could satisfy Football Federation Australia they were ready to meet the requirements, Townsville spokesman James Gage said "tomorrow" [today].
Tropical Football stormed back into Hyundai A-League calculations yesterday as New Zealand Soccer and the Wellington bid continued negotiations with FFA operations manager Matt Carroll.
Last night, NZS chief executive Graham Seatter said that after three months of trying the New Zealand bid was still struggling because of the lack of money.
"Unless a white knight gallops along in the next day or two, it ain't going to happen," said Seatter.
"I haven't found anyone prepared to make the investment we need.
"Our bid is strong in all areas except in being able to front up with the cash on day one. It is hard for me in Auckland to get the investment we need for a franchise in Wellington. That is something Wellington needs to step up to."
Seatter said the New Zealand market was bigger than Townsville, but he wondered if the FFA might be more likely to support Tropical Football than a New Zealand franchise.
Carroll, facing unfinished business before announcing his decision to step down and take a much-needed holiday from April 13, was contemplating both yesterday in giving the wink and nod to Townsville.
"Simply, we got tired [of waiting]. Today we made it a two-horse race and went to Townsville to ask them where they are at," he said.
"I have no doubt New Zealand can run an A-League licence but they need the working capital to do it.
"The ball is still in New Zealand Soccer's court, but the financial considerations are the most important.
"They assure they have the necessary underwriting but we haven't seen enough evidence of that."
Carroll again backed All Whites coach Ricki Herbert as the coach he believed most likely to succeed with the franchise.
Others might wonder why Rufer would be so keen to put his weight behind an Australian bid when he had such an opportunity at home.
Gage is confident the North Queensland bid can succeed.
"We haven't had a crack at it so far," he said from Townsville.
"All we have done in the past is to ask the FFA that we be kept in the loop when it comes time to look at expanding the A-League.
"Initially our focus was on the 2008-09 or even the 2009-10 seasons, but if the opportunity arises earlier, I am confident we can meet it."
He was sure Townsville's preparations were ahead of those of other hopefuls Canberra and Wollongong.
The new franchise would be based at Dairy Farmers Stadium, the home of the North Queensland Cowboys NRL team, with which it would share facilities.
"The stadium is owned by the state government and it is keen to have us as a second tenant," Gage said.
"There is some scepticism from the Cowboys and [NBL franchise] the Crocs but I'm sure they would be supportive if we got the go-ahead."
Unlike the Wellington bidders, Gage is confident his franchise can respond immediately to Carroll's "show me the money" demands immediately.
"We could have a minimum of A$2 million, probably more, in the bank within 24 to 48 hours, and see a capitalisation of about A$8 million in the first 12 to 18 months."
He is enthusiastic at the prospect of having Rufer head their franchise, and said he could be signed up today.
"He has had the experience of heading a new operation [the Football Kingz], has played at the highest level, has worked in establishing and running a youth academy which is something we are very keen on here and has a phenomenal network off and on the field," said Gage.
And he did not discount the possibility of other New Zealand players getting the chance to join Rufer at the club.
- Additional reporting NEWSTALK ZB
