SYDNEY - Court action will almost certainly decide whether the Football Kings soccer franchise can keep their name.
The newly-formed Auckland-based club was this week accepted by Soccer Australia into Australia's Ericsson Cup national league competition and now awaits clearance from world body Fifa to enter.
However, it could be under a
different name if the Sydney Kings basketball franchise get their way and force the Football Kings to change their name under legal duress.
Football Kings chairman Chris Turner yesterday reaffirmed that his club would not budge on the issue.
It was the final straw for the Sydney Kings boss Harry Wrublewski when informed of Turner's defiance.
"That's fine. We've given them enough time to rearrange themselves and if that's the stance they're taking then we'll seek an injunction," said Wrublewski, who believed two Kings in the sporting marketplace would create confusion with the consumer.
He said he had become frustrated with Turner's lack of communication.
The last time the clubs spoke was nearly three weeks ago in what Turner described as an unsuccessful meeting.
"It was very short. We wanted to look at the synergies of using the same name with a different brand, but they didn't even want to talk," Turner said.
"All they would say was that if we didn't change the name they would go to court, so the short answer is that if it comes to it, we'll go to court. We will take them on head-on.
"We've done our homework and we believe quite clearly that we are in a strong position."
Turner was disappointed the Sydney Kings had been so inflexible on the matter. - NZPA
