Football: Sole hope for Fury's title bid

Hamilton Wanderers stalwart Jeff Sole has signed on to coach and play for AFC Fury next season.PHOTO/FILE

The imminent removal of football goals from fields has not prevented AFC Fury founder and chairman David Cook from firing off a few shots ahead of next season.

Cook had made no secret of the fact he planned to be active in the transfer market in the pursuit of a coach and key players, and in Hamilton Wanderers stalwart Jeff Sole he has got two for the price of one.

"Jeff Sole is steeped in the excellent culture developed by [coach Mark] Cossey at Hamilton Wanderers," Cook said. "He has played at National League level and been involved with coaching at Wanderers. He is not new to Fury having played in the successful 2013 campaign.

"Importantly, Sole's appointment allows myself to now concentrate on developing facilities and the business model, which I believe will set new standards for New Zealand football, my reason for still being involved after all these years."

He said Sole had been the club's number one target for the initial tilt at the Northern league.

Player recruitment nets are being cast far and wide, with Cook confident the 2015 squad will be capable of winning promotion.

"The aim is to win the Premier League and Chatham Cup in the next few years following the path of the redoubtable Mount Maunganui AFC, a tribute to the former all conquering National League club which rose through the ranks in record time during the '80s," he said.

The footballing character is in his element with a team on the rise and a chip on his shoulder.

He is on record as saying he is not on a mission to topple Tauranga City United, but it sure sounds like it.

"Everything AFC Fury achieves is a tribute to the former Mount Maunganui AFC which was wrongly wound up and the facilities it developed handed to Tauranga City United by Tauranga City Council free of charge.

"Fury will wear Mt Maunganui colours and will go on to win the Northern Regional Football League Premier Division.

"Tauranga City United is of no concern to Fury but Fury appear to be of concern to United who are scared that Fury will overtake [them] in same way Mt Maunganui did in the 1980s."