Soccer: Dugdale tipped for Kingz

By TERRY MADDAFORS

Speculation was mounting last night that former All Whites coach Ken Dugdale is poised to return from Norway to coach the Football Kingz.

Dugdale and Miramar Rangers coach Stu Jacobs are being touted to fill the Kingz job which will become vacant when Kevin Fallon's short-term contract ends tomorrow.

It is understood 51-year-old Dugdale, who quit as New Zealand Soccer's national director of coaching and All Whites coach to take up a three-year contract with Norwegian second division club FK Vesteralen on March 30, is on a week's holiday in England.

Discussions this week between Kingz chief executive Chris Turner and New Zealand Soccer high-performance manager and All Whites assistant coach Ricki Herbert broke down.

There were also approaches to All Whites coach Mick Waitt.

Turner would not be drawn on any speculation over who would coach the Kingz other than to say that "when we are in a position to make any announcements, we will."

Dave Wilson, who managed teams during Dugdale's stint with the All Whites and retains links with Dugdale through the Ole Academy in Porirua, admitted speculation was rife.

"But I can assure you Ken is not jumping on a plane tomorrow.

"It would be wonderful if he and Stu Jacobs did get to work together [at the Kingz]. It would be good for the club to have people with that experience involved.

"They have worked together in the past.

"I haven't spoken to Ken [about the Kingz job] and as far as I know they haven't either. He is still a director of the Ole Academy and I expect him back later in the year."

Wilson said he had expressed an interest in buying the Kingz, but he and his business partner, Dennis Rowe, took a step back when Turner and Ted Midlane stepped forward.

"We didn't want a Dutch auction, but we are still prepared to help where we can when the dust has settled."

That tends to suggest that Dugdale and Jacobs may well become involved.

Fallon yesterday declined to comment on his failure to win a second term.

"I'm not interested in discussing the Kingz," Fallon said. "My contract finishes on June 30."

He was happier to talk about what he described as one of the best games of schoolboy football he had seen and a forthcoming coaching course at Mt Albert Grammar School.

In a knockout game on Thursday, Mt Albert Grammar and Kelston Boys' were locked 1-1 after extra time. The penalty shootout then went to 10-10 (after both goalkeepers had scored) before the failing light forced the game to be called off.

It will be replayed after both refused to use the toss of a coin to find a winner.

Next week Fallon will oversee a coaching course at the school involving 400 American students as part of a "people-to-people" programme.

Although obviously disappointed at being cast adrift by the Kingz, Fallon is keen to get on with his footballing life - wherever that might take him.