KEY POINTS:
A New Zealand Soccer board meeting this week will be crucial to hopes of a New Zealand team playing in next season's A-League.
NZS chief Graham Seatter said last night that he still regarded the chances of an ongoing New Zealand presence as better than 50-50.
He was
speaking after he, NZS chairman John Morris and board member Phil Johnson had met the Football Federation Australia hierarchy in Melbourne on the eve of last night's Hyundai A-League grand final between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United.
"We know we have until March 1 to decide whether we are prepared to take the licence and sub-let it," said Seatter. "The conditions they want us to meet are no different than they have been all along.
"Absolutely, they are keen for a New Zealand team to play in the league.
"They continue to give us the first opportunity, which is heartening."
Asked whether he would continue to press for a commitment before next month's deadline, Seatter said NZS would probably need that much time.
Seatter said FFA operations manager Matt Carroll and chief executive Ben Buckley again pressed for a New Zealand Soccer involvement.
"We are in a difficult situation," said Seatter. "The FFA license the Australian clubs and retain a degree of control over them as, if you like, their own. Last season we had the situation of having a New Zealand team not answerable to the national body.
"We agree there has to be a sound base for any team in the A-League. We will have a board meeting sooner rather than later and make a decision and draw up a sub-licence.
"Initially it was a case of the FFA saying, 'Show us the money'. Now it is New Zealand Soccer saying, 'Show us the money", said Seatter. "Until we know we have the support needed, we can't turn to Ricki Herbert as coach and allow him to start recruiting."
Seatter, who wants a board meeting by Friday at the latest, said: "I'll be on to it tomorrow. We have to find the entity to take up the sub-licence and ensure the capital base and on-going funding is in place."
Of suggestions the national body should turn to the Government, through Sport & Recreation NZ (Sparc), for support similar to that given to the America's Cup and other top sporting projects, Seatter said he did not see that as an option.
"Unlike the America's Cup, which could be a huge benefit to the New Zealand economy, we can't offer that."
