Soccer: Offer too late for Oceania tournament

A $50-a-night offer to accommodate the New Zealand under-17 team in New Caledonia came too late to get the side to next month's Oceania qualifiers.

New Zealand Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter said yesterday he was unaware of the cut-price accommodation but added that it probably would not have made any difference to the decision to stay away.

"Our decision was made on the basis of a lack of funding. There would have had to be significant spending beyond accommodation," said Seatter.

"We estimated the costs would have been close to $100,000."

Of suggestions they could have sought funding from a community trust to cover accommodation costs, Seatter pointed out that the money could not be spent outside New Zealand.

Parents of prospective players have been vocal in opposing the decision to can the team's involvement in the tournament.

Oceania Football Confederation general secretary Tai Nicholas said four countries had taken up the cheap accommodation option. 

Some of those who have opposed the national body have pointed to the upcoming All Whites match against Australia in London and asked how NZ Soccer could justify sending a coach and two assistants for a one-off match at a time when there appeared to be a budget shortfall.

"Australia have been very accommodating," said Seatter. "We are reasonably confident this match will have a minimal impact on this year's budget. We are not going to send the All Whites away half-resourced.

"I'm sympathetic to the under-17 boys and their parents but as in any user-pays situation, there are no selection guarantees.

"New Zealand Soccer has made a massive investment in coaching. That has been undermined by this team not being selected."

In pulling out of the New Caledonia tournament, NZ Soccer will cop a $5000 fine.

* Auckland City coach Allan Jones is playing a waiting game before gathering a squad to play in the May-June Oceania Club Championships in Tahiti.

"We met the players on Thursday night and by next Thursday we will know how many of our current squad are available," said Jones. "After that we will make a decision.

"All the players are taking a three-week break and we will then name 22-24 from which we will name the 18 for Tahiti.

"Apart from some younger players who we feel need to play, the players we want for Tahiti will not be playing for winter clubs here."