KEY POINTS:
By next weekend, we should have a better idea of whether a professional football club will continue to exist in this country.
Chief fundraiser Graham Seatter, who also doubles as New Zealand Soccer chief executive, is "quietly confident" but it is hard selling something that has mostly been an abject failure since the Kingz were born in 1999.
Plenty would argue it would not be a bad thing if the Knights, like the Kingz, simply faded away.
I am not one of them.
In only two seasons, the A-League has proved to be a quality competition that will only get better. It attracts good crowds and TV audiences in Australia and the hope is that, if done properly, it will take off here also.
It's been said the NZFC could be built up to provide a platform for talented youngsters but it's doubtful how good it could become given it's unlikely ever to become professional. It's also questionable that it will capture the imagination of the public.
A closet football community exists here. The fact 9827 curious individuals turned up for the Knights' first home game last season and then 7304 attended the opening game this season is an illustration of what could be.
Sky TV figures also show that Knights games do surprisingly well. About 35,000 viewers tune in despite poor results, which is more than watch any English Premiership game in New Zealand (timing has an influence) and more than the Breakers.
Clearly it would take time for the club to earn the confidence of potential fans after the dreadful fare they have been dished up. But fans, like voters, have short memories and would be willing to forgive if it was done properly.
Money is crucial, not only because it will entice the right players but also the right sponsors and marketers.
While Seatter has identified an initial investment of $2 million, supplemented by $1.5 million from the FFA, this would serve only to ensure the club ticked over. The previous administration proved that isn't enough. If it's not done properly, they might as well shut the doors now.
The club also needs a New Zealand flavour, and not just the seasoning of the past two years, to make it more relevant.
It would be a mistake, however, to draft a team wholly from New Zealanders. It would be preferable to recruit about half of the 20-man roster from Kiwi players around the world and supplement them with quality imports. After all, it's all about winning football matches.
That means it's the end for many of the existing squad with only Jonas Salley and Gao Leilei and Kiwis Noah Hickey, Mark Paston and perhaps Che Bunce in the frame should the club survive.
It's true our best talents don't need the Knights and will probably never need them. If they're good enough they will make it, like Ryan Nelsen, Danny Hay, Ivan Vicelich and Simon Elliott have done.
But there are plenty of obstacles to becoming a professional and the import quotas at Australian clubs, which will be allowed only three non-Australian players from next season, will make it even harder.
The Knights would provide that opportunity. Let's hope, after two miserably failed attempts, it will be a case of third time lucky.
What next?
Tonight: Sydney vs Knights.
January 15: NZS to indicate to the FFA whether they have sufficient financial backers for the Knights to survive.
January 21: Knights vs Perth (final game of season).
January 31: FFA deadline for new investors to be found.
August: New A-League season kicks off.
