Soccer: Knights not wanted in A-League

What started as dissatisfaction in New Zealand has now spread to growing discontent in Australia about the underperforming Knights, although many there have taken it a step further and are questioning why a team from this side of the Tasman deserves to remain in the A-League.

The Knights slumped to their 11th loss in 12 games when they went down 3-0 to the Perth Glory early yesterday morning to leave them 12 points behind the second-last team in the league.

A significant body of opinion is forming that the A-League doesn't need a team from New Zealand, particularly one so far off the pace that seems to be following the footsteps of the ill-fated Football Kingz.

Instead, protagonists are suggesting a team from either Woollongong, North Queensland, the Gold Coast or even Darwin to take the Knights' place, which would be a disaster for football in this country.

Respected Australian football journalist Michael Cockerill of The Sydney Morning Herald has been a long-time supporter of both New Zealand and Oceania football but even he is starting to question the Knights' involvement.

"I have been a staunch advocate for a New Zealand team in the competition but at the moment I'm scratching my head," Cockerill said. "How long can we let them continue to underachieve? People are seriously questioning the Knights and I'm finding it harder and harder to defend them.

"If Fifa are lobbied and told it's not working, then they might change their minds."

Fifa can work in mysterious ways and nothing can be put past the world governing body, especially in light of the close relationship Australian boss Frank Lowy has with Fifa president Sepp Blatter. After all, Australia managed to convince Fifa that they needed out of Oceania and should be allowed to join Asia after years of trying.

But A-League head of operations Matt Carroll explained that Fifa had granted the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) control in how they allocated the five-year licences to clubs and they would be sticking by the ailing Knights, despite the fact they were not meeting performance and financial criteria.

"There are criteria [the Knights need to meet] but that doesn't mean you let a team dissolve," Carroll said. "We are committed to a New Zealand team in the A-League and we will make that work to ensure it continues."

That has seen the A-league "cut the Knights some slack" in a number of areas, including allowing them to pay only half of the $1m entry fee because they weren't allowed to take part in qualifying for the World Club Championships.

Carroll is also working with the Knights to help find sponsors (they're still without a major sponsor) and they will also assist with player recruitment for next season.

With coach John Adshead admitting he made a number of mistakes with his squad this season - and it's understood agents in Australia presented the Knights with a list of the best players still available prior to them filling their books but they opted to chase their own targets - it's one area he can make changes.

Adshead is expected to overhaul his side in the off-season, including chasing the signatures of a number of overseas-based All Whites. He will meet with All Whites coach Ricki Herbert this week to get up to date with their circumstances after Herbert talked to a number of them while he was in the UK with Premiership side Charlton Athletic.

The danger, however, is that few of the players might be prepared to join the Knights in the present environment.

Also bubbling away are persistent rumours that the Knights are in a perilous financial state.

Carroll said it was a concern but the only way the Knights would drop out of the A-League was if present owners Brian Katzen and Anthony Lee opted out of the club. "If there's a change in ownership, that's a different story," he said.

Carroll has also heard the calls for another Australian side to replace the Knights but said they are looking to increase the leagues' size to 10 teams. "We will look to the likes of North Queensland and other parts of Victoria and New South Wales to fill the spots but, in my view, that wouldn't happen in the next three years," he said. "We have to bed down the league as it is."

It needs to be remembered the Knights are not the first club to struggle financially, with both Melbourne and Central Coast admitting to money woes ahead of the league's kick-off, while Sydney FC received significant financial help. Carroll also said they were presently working with other clubs to ensure their financial security.

A look at some of the Knights' costs makes for grim reading, and it must cause some sleepless nights for both Katzen and Lee.

Although they don't come close to breaking the AU$2 million salary cap imposed on each club, base salaries are between $40,000 and $100,000 a season for each player in the 20-man squad. It's understood skipper Danny Hay and the bevy of English imports like Sean Devine and Simon Yeo are among the club's top earners.

On top of that, it costs $10,000 each week to hire North Harbour Stadium, plus additional costs such as wages for stadium staff. Crowds have dropped to 2500 in recent weeks, which is well short of the league's estimate of 10,000.

Lee said he and Katzen had taken a significant financial hit but that they were in for the "long haul". "This is a marathon not a sprint and we'll be here forever and a day as long as there's no professional New Zealand league," he said. "We'll find it a lot easier next year."

Fans can only hope this prophecy comes true, along with the advice of both Carroll and Cockerill to help the Knights turn things around - win. If only it was that easy.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY