KEY POINTS:
Tim Brown wasn't deemed good enough to play for the Knights. He wasn't the only New Zealand footballer to be told that and it's fair to say it hurt - and still hurts.
Now, though, the 25-year-old All White might well give the one-fingered salute to those who
didn't think he was good enough.
Today he will line up with his Newcastle team-mates against Adelaide to find Melbourne's opponents in next Sunday's A-League grand final.
It's been quite a journey, including unsuccessful trials at English clubs, spells sleeping on friends' couches, the uncertainty of week-by-week contracts with Newcastle, taking on Brazil, then calls to become a Knight.
"It's been a long saga," Brown said from Newcastle, "but it's all worked out in the end.
"I harbour a little bit of resentment [about the Knights] and I'm not the only one. The fact I had to come to Australia to prove myself, even though I've played really well for New Zealand, was pretty disappointing. That's against what the Knights should be for.
"Every coach will have their opinion about me but I feel there should be more Kiwis there, and some of us are good enough. That's what disappointed me.
"I was annoyed, angry about it, and it motivated me to play well because I was even starting to question my own abilities. Let's hope they get it right this time."
The fate of the club should be known on Thursday when the Football Federation of Australia will decide whether the licence will go to Auckland or Wellington, or to an Australian venture. And Brown is as keen as anyone to know what the decision will be.
The former Wellingtonian is sitting on a two-year offer to stay at Newcastle and feels some loyalty to the club that gave him his break - not to mention one that would qualify for the Asian Champions League if they beat Adelaide today. But he is also tempted by the prospect of a return home.
All Whites coach Ricki Herbert, who is expected to be coach of the New Zealand club, is a fan of Brown who is likely to be one of the first on his list of players.
"The potential to be involved with a New Zealand team is exciting," Brown said. "I have the utmost respect for Ricki and if he was involved he would be a magnet for other players.
"We would then be working and playing together every day and that would only help our chances of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup. I've been overseas for a few years and it would be nice to come home but I don't really know what I will do at the moment."
After being omitted by the Knights, Brown was then approached by the club after his first A-League game for Newcastle against Melbourne. Former coach Paul Nevin was impressed enough to to offer him a short-term deal as injury cover. Barry Simmonds also tried to lure him during his tenure.
The contrast between the two clubs couldn't be more stark. As Knights players sit around waiting to see if they have a future at the club, Brown and his team-mates were given a civic reception in Newcastle on Friday before heading to Adelaide.
"This will be the biggest game I've played at club level," he enthused. "Just walking around town people are coming up to us and wishing us well.
"The whole place is buzzing so I can only imagine what it's going to be like if we make it to the final in Melbourne.
"To play in front of 57,000 fans would be pretty special - it's more than most English Premiership games get."
Not bad for a guy who had been condemned to the scrapheap.
