Soccer: Hay joins exodus from crumbling Knights empire

Danny Hay was told he was not welcome at training. Picture / Richard Robinson

Danny Hay took the long walk away from the New Zealand Knights yesterday, throwing the already troubled club into further turmoil.

Hay, unable to comment on the reasons for leaving the club at which he was club captain, issued a brief statement through the Australian-based Professional Players' Association.

It said: "Danny Hay has agreed to the mutual termination of his contract. The All Whites captain and Champions League semifinalist (with Leeds United) is hugely disappointed to have ended his time in the Hyundai A-League.

"Football in New Zealand has the capacity to be a success. In trying to highlight steps I truly thought were in the best interests of the game and the club, I obviously upset some people, which triggered this dispute.

"I wish the remaining players in the squad all the best."

There has been obvious discontent in recent weeks. Other players say that on one occasion, Hay was told by club chief executive Steve O'Hara that he would not be welcome at training.

Last week Simon Yeo followed Ronnie Bull in returning to England. He claimed it was for personal/financial reasons.

When the Herald met Yeo last week, he said: "I can't afford to stay. There is no footballing reason for my returning home. I have spoken to my agent but there are no deals on the table," he added.

It's now clear that was not the case.

On October 13, under the headline "Yeo Fancies Lincoln Return", the Lincolnshire Echo quoted the striker as saying: "I won't lie, it's getting difficult here in New Zealand. I am near the end of my tether.

"If Lincoln were to come in for me I would find a move back there hard to resist."

No surprise then when the news broke yesterday that Lincoln City boss Keith Alexander had re-signed Yeo, who was reported to have said that despite apparent interest from other clubs, Lincoln was the only team he wanted to sign for.

In his farewell interview here, Yeo had said that when he arrived he had "always wanted to stay, see out his contract and get citizenship".

That has a hollow ring in light of the latest developments.

At the same time, Yeo said he did not attend a players' meeting at which the future of the squad and their relationship with football manager John Adshead was discussed.

It is now clear Yeo was not at the meeting because he was not invited. He was, it seems, never the flavour of the month with his teammates.

While the Knights battled to their best result on the field in weeks - a 1-1 draw with the Queensland Roar in their last pre-Christmas outing - it is increasingly apparent the off-field rumblings continued.

Chairman Anthony Lee has taken to ruling the club with a "my way or the highway" heavy hand.

Gone in recent times, among others, is former marketing manager Richard Howarth (to the NZ Warriors, where he has already signed some big sponsorship deals - something he was unable to do for the Knights given their rocky status).

That role at the Knights has now apparently been taken by director and former Football Kingz boss Chris Turner who quickly turned, unsuccessfully, to North Shore Mayor George Wood for assistance.

The club is still without a major sponsor.

Former All Black Grant Fox, who did some promotional/sponsorship work for the Football Kingz, had expressed an interest in working in a similar vein with the Knights but found Lee difficult, at best, to deal with and moved on.

Former chief executive Guy Hedderwick, who moved from the Kingz to the Knights, has been replaced by Lee confidant O'Hara, who gave up his lawn-mowing job to sit at a desk at the Knights' headquarters.

He works alongside general manager Eddie Thompson, another Lee appointment, who is a one-time truck driver.

Lee has wanted total control.

He carefully warded off attempts by staff or journalists to contact UK-based club benefactor Brian Katzen.

It was common knowledge that Hedderwick, who had long worked for Katzen, had barely spoken to his boss in the weeks leading up to his departure.

On his last trip to Auckland, Katzen, at Lee's behest, had brief meetings with only selected media representatives.

This cloak of secrecy has done nothing for the troubled club, which needs all the support it can get.

The only even half-quick fix is to start winning on the park.

The chances of that remain remote given the struggle Adshead has had in assembling a team to do a decent job.

Adshead has come under fire but he has been in a no-win situation with players - some recruited before he was on board by Lee and assistant coach Tommy Mason - who are obviously not up to A-League standard.

Mason, a close Lee ally, does not have the experience needed to give Adshead the support he needs in trying to make the most of a no-win situation.

There has been talk of the future and a need to do better.

That will only happen if there is a ruthless culling of players, no more over-inflated contracts and at least a modicum of honesty by all involved.

Through all the trials and tribulations endured by the fans of the Kingz and Knights, one person has kept a brave face and done her best to hold the crumbling empire together.

Operations manager Robin Gardner has worked outstandingly in a difficult role.

There is a fervent hope she survives and does not follow other good people who have departed under what sadly threatens to become even more of a one-man band.


Club in chaos

* Danny Hay
Club captain who fell out with the coach and has now gone.
* John Adshead
The coach who inherited players not of his choosing.
* Simon Yeo and Ronnie Bull
English journeymen who walked out of contracts, claiming problems back home.
* Anthony Lee
Chairman with a my-way-or-the-highway approach.
* Steve O'Hara
Lee-appointed lawnmower man who replaced chief executive Guy Hedderwick.
* Eddie Thompson
General manager, one-time truck driver and another Lee appointment.
* Chris Turner
The former Kingz boss is apparently now the Knights' marketing manager.