Soccer: Transfers shuffle NZFC deck

YoungHeart Manawatu sign Steven Old. Picture / Nigel Marple

The New Zealand Football Championship transfer merry-go-round started and stopped this week with all teams making changes before last night's deadline.

YoungHeart Manawatu have seized the opportunity to bring All Whites defender and former under-17 captain Steven Old back from the United States as a marquee player. He is one of seven players brought in by coach Colin Tua.

Team Wellington have welcomed back an old hand with All Whites midfielder Raf de Gregorio joining the Mick Waitt-coached team. De Gregorio is expected to play in tomorrow's home game against Otago United.

Stuart Hogg has switched back to Waitakere United after a short stint with Waikato FC.

Hogg was quickly back into action with his old club, turning out in last night's upset 1-0 loss to Hawkes Bay United.

Reduced to 10 men after just five minutes, when Richie Cardoso was sent off for retaliation, Waitakere struggled but still created chances before losing to a 12th minute goal to David Geary.

Former Central United striker Glen Eie has also joined Waitakere, who have let Marcel Isakowitz (as planned), John Fletcher and Nathan Christie go.

Auckland-based Mark Beldham has ended his travelling stint with Otago United, one of four players let go.

Auckland City have taken injured Joel Mathews off their list of contracted players, allowing Shane Pascoe to return to the Kiwitea St-based club.

The big clashes of the round tomorrow will be in Wellington and the English Park battle in Christchurch between Canterbury United and second-placed Manawatu.

Manawatu are within two points of leaders Auckland City, who have the short trip to Hamilton. 

 

In and out

Waitakere United
* In: Stuart Hogg, Jamie Warren, Glen Eie. Out: Marcel Isakowitz, John Fletcher, Nathan Christie.

Auckland City
* In: Shane Pascoe. Out: Joel Mathews.

Waikato FC
* In: Craig Flowerday, Paul Caton, Jeremy Field, Andrew Foskett, Mudrik Franpisek, Michael Gwyther, Ryan Young, Tamati Williams. Out: Hogg, James Leong, Cameron Jones, Mike De Vetter, Stuart Wilson, Rodrigo Marcoletta, Shane Hookes, Eddie Trubshoe.

Hawkes Bay United
* In: Martin Akers, Shaun Easthope, Ross Goodacre, Nathan Holten, Niklas Sandor. Out: Leon Birnie, Richard Comber, Richard Gilbertson, Andrew Huxford.

Youngheart Manawatu
* In: Ben Totori, Steven Old, Nick Darbyshire, Josh Smith, Glen Fraser, Nathan Cooksley, Darren Cherriton. Out: Yuki Tomomatsu, Kazu Sugiura, Sale Nelson.

Team Wellington
* In: Allen Chote, Raf de Gregorio. Out: Jared Curtis, Sacha Nathu.

Canterbury United
* In: Jordan Ashton, Gerald Brown. Out: Simon Roberts, Chris McIntosh.

Otago United
* In: Uliks Kotrri, Michael Abbott, Jim Letts, Andrew Boyens. Out: Mark Beldham, Phil Elder, Peter Evans, Gareth Hore.