Soccer: Former All White leads takeover bid for Kingz

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Former All White Sam Malcolmson is to head a consortium of businessmen interested in buying the ailing Football Kingz.

Malcolmson and his group will formalise plans for their bid after two of the principals return to New Zealand next week.

Asked about any pending sale, Kingz owner and chief executive Chris Turner said yesterday that he had no comment, adding: Whatever he [Malcolmson] wants to say is up to him.

"If somebody wants to buy the club or become involved in it, I will always listen.

"I have a number of people who have spoken to me on a number of things.

"If something came up that I felt was good for the club, I would follow it through."

Malcolmson made it clear that if there was a change in ownership, the present management "would have to go".

Asked why he and his group would consider taking over the four-year-old club, Malcolmson said there was a need to bring credibility back to the game and run the Kingz as a business.

"We, like many people, believe the Kingz are very important to New Zealand soccer," 55-year-old Malcolmson said. "Just as we realise it is important for the Kingz to have close ties with New Zealand Soccer and their chief executive who, in turn, can work closely with Soccer Australia and Fifa.

"We want to put an emphasis on young New Zealand players. We would also be looking to work closely with an overseas club, maybe in Britain, in a feeder-type playing/coaching arrangement."

Asked what he estimated it would cost to run the club in the first year, Malcolmson said that until he had seen the accounts he was unsure, but admitted there would not be much change out of $500,000.

"We would have to look at television rights and any sponsorship deals which might need to be renegotiated.

"In a letter to the Kingz we have said that until we make a decision we would expect all negotiations with players and coaches to be put on hold.

"There is a need to get the public back on side. We will decide next week whether to go ahead with due diligence and by the end of April, at the latest, we will make a decision on where we are headed."

New Zealand Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan said his organisation would need to approve any change in the original shareholding of the Kingz. "That would not be unreasonably withheld."

Turner dismissed suggestions the club was likely to move to Wellington or play at least half-a-dozen games there next season.

"The Football Kingz have a contract with Ericsson Stadium for another season," he said. "But we are definitely looking to play a match or two in Wellington, and I know Christchurch would like a game."

Turner also has other issues to address. Major sponsor Vodafone ends its contract in September, while the Kingz' agreement with Air New Zealand ended after their last away game this month.

Their other major supporter, Lotto Sports, has a "cash and kind" arrangement for another season.

Turner said some players were likely to be released by the Kingz to play in the Southern Trust-sponsored National League, but not to make money for the club.

"If a player goes to a National League club we will continue to pay the players until June 30 as per their contracts," Turner said.

"All we ask from the clubs is for the players to be paid the same expenses as the rest of their players. That money will come to us."

Vital statistics

* Sam Malcolmson.

* Born Scotland 1947. Came to New Zealand 1974.

* Played 36 games for the All Whites from 1976-83, including 1982 World Cup.

* Left New Zealand in 1996. Worked for Starter Corporation (sporting goods company) in Melbourne, Amsterdam and the United States.

* Returned to Melbourne as business manager of a racing stable.

* Returned to New Zealand last September to work as a consultant.