KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Football's losses are not as bad as first thought and are closer to $450,000 rather than the $834,000 previously reported.
This figure would paint a healthier picture, considering $311,000 of the losses are attributable to the postponed World Cup qualifier against Fiji.
Taking that into consideration,
a deficit of about $150,000 represents NZF's best financial result since Graham Seatter took over as chief executive in 2005. The figure of $834,000 previously circulated is understood to be a worst-case scenario.
Seatter refused to comment on the state of the national body's finances.
It's unclear, however, whether the revised figure will have an effect on the seven federations. All seven combined to put together a seven-page submission believed to be scathing of the current administration.
As many as five of the federations were preparing to pass a vote of no confidence in the NZF board at a special meeting on Thursday but it's understood this would not be a binding resolution.
The federations hold the board accountable for the deficit and there is a widespread belief that board chairman John Morris and Seatter should either resign or be removed.
Federations 1 (United Soccer 1), 2 (Auckland), 5 (Capital) and 6 (Mainland) are believed to be driving the call against the board, while 3 (Waikato-Bay of Plenty) is expected to follow.
There is also disquiet on the NZF board about Seatter's spending, with as many as three board members understood to want him replaced.
Football administrators went into shutdown mode last week, with few prepared or able to go on the record until after Thursday's meeting.
One who would talk was Sparc chief executive Nick Hill.
"It's an issue for football to establish its confidence in its governance," said Hill. "At the very least, there are some questions about financial management and to end up with an estimated loss of $834,000 is very concerning. [But] to go and sack the board is a significant step."
NZF are confident of reversing the financial situation, with qualification for next year's Confederations Cup guaranteeing additional income of at least US$1 million.
New Zealand teams played six games in Bill McGowan's last year in charge but this figure was 73 in 2007.
NZF sought $600,000 in compensation from the Government for the postponed Fiji game but are unlikely to succeed. Sparc, however, is in discussions about providing some financial assistance to help them through the next six months. Hill declined to comment about this but indicated NZF's proposal of levying each player another $10 was reasonable.
"It's important they look at the membership levy and whether that's at the right level, given the things they want the national body to do. If you don't want your national body to do anything, if you don't want the All Whites, then maybe their current levy is fine," he said.