KEY POINTS:
The will they, won't they, mystique surrounding efforts to ensure survival for a New Zealand team in the next A-League season has hogged the headlines from the time the New Zealand Knights went belly up.
There have, among the negatives associated with the now-departed Knights, been some positives
- the late season rally, coach Ricki Herbert's ability and the determination of soccer bosses across the Tasman to ensure an on-going New Zealand presence. But those factors and a decent dollop of funding alone will not get a new team across the line.
Already, the New Zealand-based team, should one be confirmed next week (and there is still much to be done before conjecture becomes reality), is being left behind.
Perth Glory, now with a new owner and able to move away from Football Federation Australia's apron strings, yesterday announced the first crop of signings for the new season. Other clubs are already down that path.
The enforced hesitancy in confirming a New Zealand entity is putting their chances of something better in season three at risk.
The new rules mean more opportunities for New Zealand players but only if the best are not snapped up by Australian clubs.
Even if the new coach did want to include stalwarts including Neil Emblen, Darren Bazeley and others, the chances, under the new four-visa player rule, are slim.
A clear decision is vital. In or out, it will be time to move on.
In, and the opportunities are, or could be, boundless. Out, and the New Zealand Football Championship will be thrust to a higher level.
Or will it?
There are issues too with that eight-team competition. Clubs, keen to start next season's recruiting, are being stymied by the tardiness from New Zealand Soccer in announcing a replacement for the NZ Community Trust as naming rights sponsor.
Until that is in place and the clubs know what they are playing for, they will not sign new licence agreements.
The on-going wrangle with Auckland City over the loss of points, the insistence of the competitions manager that the grand final be a made-for-television occasion with a 1.30pm Saturday kickoff and the late confirmation of how the teams to play in the O-League would be decided, has clubs wondering whether too much effort has gone into chasing an A-League start rather than focusing on the local competition.
Given the direct entry to Fifa tournaments Oceania teams now have, New Zealand Soccer are determined young players should be given their chance.
NZS chief executive Graham Seatter is keen to "give youth a chance" but says he is being stymied by NZFC clubs chasing the big bucks.
"This million dollar thing has become all encompassing for the clubs," said Seatter. "Their win at all costs attitude is, I believe, having a negative effect on our game."
Elsewhere issues including the backseat now being taken by one of the highest profile clubs in the country and Allan Jones' sudden resignation as nation women's coach don't put the game in the best light.
Yesterday's shattering news that the University Mt Wellington Club has opted out of the northern premier league citing financial and other issues is another body blow.
To see what many still regard as the best club of the past 30 or so years - Mt Wellington - disappear is a blight on the game.
The northern league, once a showpiece competition and offering soccer of a half-decent level to around 50 clubs from Whakatane, Taupo, Taumarunui in the south to Whangarei in the north, has eroded. The 34 clubs in premier, first and second divisions this season will become 24 next year.
Club football continues to slide into oblivion but unless the A-League gets across the line and the NZFC can continue as a vibrant, viable competition, the regional leagues could soon become all we are left with.
The gap between club football and the international stage is huge.
At the top level the All Whites can call on overseas-based players. Below that, there is no such luxury and unless the very best players male and female are given some meaningful football the fear is those Oceania direct entry spots could disappear.
That does not bear thinking about.
