SYDNEY - A-League soccer bosses may get their wish to see more home-grown players in the New Zealand Knights next season, partly thanks to an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ruling.
With Australia now part of the AFC, the governing body has ruled that New Zealand players will nowbe classified as overseas imports at Australian clubs.
The AFC will allow only three imports for clubs competing in the Asian Champions League, meaning A-League clubs may be less inclined to sign New Zealanders.
"That makes it even more important for the Knights to provide a pathway for top-class New Zealand talent," A-League head of operations Matt Carroll said. He also wants the club to forge closer links with NZ Soccer.
The Knights have just four New Zealanders on their roster - goalkeeper Mark Paston, defender Che Bunce and midfielders Noah Hickey and Michael White.
Seven New Zealanders are on the rosters of Australian A-League clubs including promising young striker Jeremy Brockie, whom the Knights let slip through their fingers to Sydney FC.
Perth has three New Zealanders - Leo Bertos, Jeremy Christie and Adrian Webster - and Newcastle has two - veteran striker Vaughan Coveny and fellow All White Steven Old.
As the Knights have struggled through another season, now eight points behind the second-last side Perth after 16 rounds, club management have been criticised for failing to recruit promising locals, signing ageing British players instead.
They played Sunday's 1-1 away draw with Adelaide with seven different nationalities in their starting XI.
