Soccer: Kingz slide into their darkest day

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Chris Turner describes the Football Kingz as a club facing a "mini crisis."

The master of the understatement, Turner has excelled himself this time.

Mike Petersen's walkout less than five months after being appointed football manager/coach is the latest chapter in a sorry saga which threatens to drag the club to depths from which it will struggle to rise.

Turner, the club's general manager, is putting on a brave face. But he is hurting.

He went to great pains yesterday to say the Kingz did not want Petersen to leave and that his late-night decision on Monday to quit was something the club had never dared contemplate.

Petersen was called to a meeting of selected Kingz board members, including former All Blacks coach John Hart, at a restaurant at which it was planned he would be offered all possible support in an effort to turn things around.

Instead, as he had earlier hinted to outsiders, he was on his way.

An unhappy Petersen apparently harboured lingering doubts about the club's structure and concerns over New Zealand soccer's infrastructure in general.

He felt the game here was 20 years behind Australia and lacked the wherewithal to close the gap.

He could also look at a string of disasters which in the end forced his hand.

Shane Rufer's appointment as assistant left the feeling that Petersen was denied the chance of a clean break and had to pick up the pieces as best he could.

Luring Con Boutsianis and Vas Kalogeracos from Melbourne was initially seen as a coup.

Within days, and without either kicking a ball for their new club, they were gone. Petersen was forced into damage control.

He should not have had to carry the can for some horribly inept on-field efforts. But the buck had to stop somewhere.

With a dwindling squad and avenues rapidly closing, Petersen's hand was forced.

By yesterday morning, with Petersen apparently already on his way back to Melbourne, the Kingz squad for Friday night's game in Wollongong was down from 19 to 13, including two goalkeepers.

Boutsianis, on his way to a tribunal hearing in Australia which will determine his future, has not played, neither has injured defender Che Bunce who returned from Iceland with a back injury.

They have since been joined on the sideline by Gerard Davis and captain Sean Douglas with hamstring injuries.

George Goutzioulis yesterday copped a two-match ban for his crude challenge 13 minutes after coming into last Friday's 7-2 drubbing by Perth Glory as a substitute and will not play again until the away match against the Melbourne Knights on November 21.

Wynton Rufer will be another no-show this week. He flew to Zurich on Monday for a Fifa meeting.

Turner, also in damage control, was frantically trying to sign players yesterday.

But the options are not great, with the domestic season long gone.

At least he will be in Wollongong - to take over as team manager after Andy Theoklitos was shown the red card.

"Andy came as a part of a package with Mike Petersen," Turner said.

"We are now reassessing his position. He is still on our books, but is not taking any part in training or other duties."

Turner confirmed that Boutsianis was still on the payroll, adding that he was also being fined for breach of contract.

"The fines are more than we are paying him."

Turner said he had no problem in letting Petersen go once he said "he did not have the hunger."

"Mike Petersen was the man for the job absolutely," Turner said.

"He recognised the team had played poorly.

"And we now realise the Con Boutsianis issue got to him more than he thought it would."

Petersen said: "Maybe I'll be perceived to be a little bit soft and that's fine, I'll wear that. Friday night hurt me personally, a lot. I've never been on a flogging like that, but I take responsibility for it.

"I still have to be honest and say I haven't got the heart to carry on at this point. I can't seem to fulfil the role I came to do."

Turner said the players were "hurting" and were as disappointed as the club in their performances this season.

"You either feel sorry or do something about it. It is business as usual, although we must acknowledge our plans for the season have gone out the window.

"We have let our supporters down. And, many would say, New Zealand soccer in general."

Last night, Turner confirmed that former Kingz players Tim Stevens and Leigh Kenyon had been recalled. They will join 18-year-old Mt Albert Grammar School and former Zimbabwean schoolboy rugby international Lance Eeson as cover in the shrinking squad.