New coach Brett Angell says he's looking forward to the challenge of working with a new squad this summer. Photo / File
Only two or, at a push, three players are likely to return to the fold of the Hawke's Bay United football squad this summer.
However, the Kinetic Electrical-sponsored franchise is likely be devoid of any Bay-born or based players.
"Some have left by choice - mine and the players' - but whoever we've identified wants to come to Hawke's Bay to promote the region," says new coach Brett Angell.
The 2014-15 ASB Premiership squad will comprise 20 seniors and four youth players but Angell has only "locked in 12" after throwing a net outside the province.
All the players hail from Auckland and Wellington.
"That's how it panned out with the squad changing completely from last summer," he says before the season kicks off with their first game away against Auckland City on November 2. Team Wellington, Wanderers Soccer Club and Waitakere United follow.
Of the first nine games, seven are on the road. They will host Team Wellington and Phoenix at Park Island, Napier.
The squad starts training on Tuesday next week but the last trials on Sunday, September 21, will determine the final cut.
It'll be held at Childers Road Reserve after a game against Sunshine Brewery Team Gisborne, who won the ComputerCare Pacific Premiership this winter.
"Realistically all the players got spoken to. Some of them were stronger [contenders] than others so we've moulded a team around them," Angell says.
He has the services of fellow Central Football employee Leon Birnie on the coaching staff but there are no assistant coaches.
Birnie, a former Bay United player, was Junior Football Ferns assistant coach to the Fifa World Cup in Costa Rica in March this year.
Promotem Napier City Rovers' Pacific Premiership manager, Mark Henderson, is the franchise team manager.
Physiotherapist Alex Gairdner and fitness instructor Brendon Campbell also return.
Angell is in the process of signing up three offshore players - a Czech, Croat and an Englishman.
"At the end of the day I can only work with people who want to stay in the region.
"We've identified some shoes and we're filling those," he says, after some players reblled last summer over his involvement as stand-in coach while Chris Greatholder took time off before Christmas to deal with burnout as coach.
Greatholder, who took the franchise to historic back-to-back playoff berths in the past two seasons, lost the job to Angell in what was labelled a "messy handover".
The franchise intends to find employment for some players who will base themselves here.
"Some have jobs in other areas so they won't relocate," he says.
The squad will train on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays but those who are unable to relocate will train twice a week during the latter part of the week.
In keeping with Central Football taking over the franchise, Angell says the governing body's events and marketing manager Matt Hastings is helping identify talent who will eventually provide the template for a home-grown squad.
The predominantly 18-year-olds from the football catchment area will be groomed to make the crossover at an opportune time.
The Central Football youth programme and the Federation Talent Centre is vital in honing those skills.
"We're getting two players from Gisborne and immersing them in the environment."
If they train with the senior squad then they will be assured game time in the ASB Premiership in summer.
Angell will also be watching an under-11 federation game before the September 21 senior trials in Gisborne.
The senior players' budget is fixed and that's what he's been working around.
"We have six weeks to bed some principles so it'll take us a while to integrate a winning group.
"It's challenging but we look forward to it."
Auckland pair back, rest here and there
So who's coming back to Hawke's Bay United this summer?
The word out there is Sean Lovemore (striker) and Ross Halivand (defender) are the pair locked in.
The Onehunga Sports players are from Auckland but Lovemore confirmed last night he intended to live in the Bay this summer in his third season.
While it did bother him "a little" that no Bay players were in the mix, he didn't "give a toss" about the politics.
"They were a good bunch of lads last summer but I'm staying away from the politics," he said.
The third person is possibly Thomas Mosquera, of New Plymouth.
It is understood captain Bill Robertson, Tom Biss, Danny Wilson, Angus Kilkolly, Fergus Neil, Matt Hastings, Richard Gillespie and Matt Gould are among Bay-born or based players who are not returning.
Robertson last night confirmed he had signed with Team Wellington.
Biss, who played for Wairarapa United this winter, is bound for Waitakere United.
Hastings can't play because of his franchise position as events and marketing manager.
Wilson said he was taking a summer off because he was on the verge of becoming a father.
"I'll probably play futsal for Hawke's Bay because it's less demanding on my time," he said, hoping to return next summer.
Defender/midfielder Neil last week signed a contract with Wai/BOP United.
"I just wanted a change," he said, adding he'd be based in Tauranga where he'd have a coaching job.
Goalkeeper Gillespie, after a recurring knee injury, has retired.
Kilkolly is in the equation of the Wanderers Soccer Club who comprise New Zealand Under-20 squad members.
Reserve goalkeeper Gould, the son of former Scottish international and Wellington Phoenix goalkeeping coach Jonathan, has signed a deal with England's Cheltenham Town FC in the 4th-tier League Two competition.