Soccer: Kingz may win if Carlton founder

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Suggestions that Melbourne National Soccer League club Carlton is on the brink of collapse would spark some interest for the Football Kingz but is unlikely to lead to a rash of new signings for the Auckland club.

Reports from Australia yesterday hinted of financial woes for Carlton, with rumours that some players have not been paid for almost two months.

Kingz general manager Chris Turner, while aware of the reports, said he had heard nothing official and refused to be drawn into speculation that the Kingz might be interested in Carlton's All Whites Sean Douglas and Mark Atkinson, and other players, including Simon Colosimo and Archie Thompson.

"Clearly, these are quality players who we would obviously have some interest in," Turner said.

"But the bottom line is that we have nothing left in the player budget and we don't want to go outside that. It was only the support we got from Christchurch-based CMG group that allowed us to go out and buy Mark Burton.

"As far as we are concerned, Carlton are still in the NSL and playing."

Other sources say Carlton, who played out a scoreless draw with the Kingz last week, went to Soccer Australia cap in hand yesterday seeking a $A500,000 loan without which there is a real chance the club will fold.

If the club did go under, all players would become free agents.

Carlton is one of the clubs rumoured to be cut when the league is reduced from 16 to 12 teams next season.

Meanwhile, Michael Cartwright and Jeff Campbell, who played against Carlton, have been dropped from the squad for tonight's game against Marconi in Sydney.

Ivan Vicelich has ruled himself out through illness.

In come Lee Jones, Riki Van Steeden and Jonathan Perry, with Perry almost certain to start in place of Vicelich.

Despite not "having a good week at training" Wynton Rufer will travel, as will Mark Burton who has struggled much of the week with a painful ankle.

There is still no place in the squad for last season's top goalscorer Aaron Silva, with assistant coach Shane Rufer justifying that non-selection by saying "there is no substitute for hard work."