Soccer: Doubts over Hay's future

Danny Hay will be out of the spotlight until his future is resolved. Picture / Kenny Rodger

New Zealand Knights captain Danny Hay will not play against Melbourne Victory tomorrow night. His future with the club is also in doubt.

Hay did not train yesterday and has agreed to take a few days off while things are sorted out. He has a three-year contract.

Hay met club chairman Anthony Lee yesterday morning and later spoke with football manager/coach John Adshead, who confirmed that Hay would not play tomorrow.

Asked if Hay's absence from the game at North Harbour Stadium could grow into something longer-term or even be permanent, Adshead said: "I don't know. We are bottom of the league and some of the lads take it to heart more than others. Danny is disappointed with the team's performance and a lot of aspects at the club.

"I have stood him down for the weekend but I hope that something can be resolved. He has the weekend off but we play again next Thursday. It might be a good time for Danny to have a couple of weeks off as that would take us into the [Christmas] break."

Adshead said he was involved in a series of one-on-one meetings with the players at present.

"We are looking at certain players with an eye to the future and questioning whether they should or should not be on contracts. As far as I'm concerned, Danny Hay was not an issue in that regard."

Hay confirmed he had discussions before leaving North Harbour Stadium yesterday morning and that he would definitely not be playing this weekend.

"There are ongoing issues which need to be resolved," said Hay, who was signed by former chief executive Guy Hedderwick.

"I have given all I can to see the club succeed. I took a 40 per cent pay cut to help them out during that period between the end of the Football Kingz and the Knights when there was no income."

John Didulica, chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, contacted the Knights yesterday to outline Hay's position.

"Danny wants to see something constructive for the club and their players going forward," said Didulica.

"I don't think it is necessarily true that Danny wants out. He has a genuine affection for the game and I'm sure he would be keen to stay if he could see the club has a bright future. But it is an issue.

"He questions whether this is the way the club is going to continue for the next three years. Danny says in the current situation he can see no light at the end of the tunnel ...

"Rather than this being a Danny Hay issue alone, he sees his role as being the captain of a collective group of players who want to see some changes. The ball is in the club's court.

"From the PFA point of view, when a club captain is told he is not required at training it is a concern," said Didulica, whose association represents 99.4 per cent of the Hyundai A-League players. Hay is on the association executive along with high-profile players Harry Kewell, Kevin Muscat, Simon Colosimo, Ross Aloisi, David Zdrilic and Ante Milicic.

Didulica said he had made a courtesy call to the Football Federation of Australia to tell them of the situation.

"I would expect the FFA will have an interest in ensuring the New Zealand Knights are competitive. They want all their teams to be as viable as possible.

"We are hopeful this situation can be resolved. The Knights have a five-year entitlement in the A-League."

* Vaughan Coveny, one of New Zealand's most experienced players and a goal-scoring striker, has signed with A-League rivals Newcastle Jets.