Soccer: Rufers warned to lift game

Management makes it clear: turn the Kingz around - or else. TERRY MADDAFORD reports.

The pressure is on Football Kingz coaches Wynton and Shane Rufer to turn around some below-par performances - or face the consequences.

"We are absolutely unhappy with the performance of the team so far this season," Kingz general manager Chris Turner said yesterday.

"As coaches, Wynton and Shane Rufer are accountable and have been told in no uncertain terms that unacceptable performances will not be tolerated for too long.

"We met them this week and they know exactly where they stand. We are not in the business of putting out losing football teams.

"Clearly, it can't continue. We don't have time in perpetuity to get it fixed."

Turner hopes the first steps on the road back will come with tonight's National Soccer League clash with middle-of-the-table Melbourne Knights, with whom they drew 3-3 at home last season but later lost 0-4 in Melbourne.

After playing just the final 11 minutes of last week's defeat by Marconi in Sydney, Wynton Rufer expects to play a greater role tonight.

But the pressure is just as much on his coaching as his playing skills.

Turner refused to comment on Rufer's suggestion that the club was not in a financial position to apply any pressure.

Rufer had said that the club could not fire him and his brother because management would not have the money to buy out their contracts.

"If Wynton thinks he is safe, he should know that as an organisation we will not tolerate performances that are less than the potential this team has," Turner said. "They are well aware the pressure is on them.

"Obviously, their coaching futures with the Kingz are under threat but, having said that, we believe we have the players in our squad to turn things around."

Turner has also rejected suggestions that fans have a "whip round" to get money to buy more players.

"We appreciate any support we get, but we have the utmost faith in the players we have. We will not be going out with a bucket to get money for Sean Douglas or any other player.

"We don't have the budget even if [Australian club] Carlton fell over and players such as Douglas, Mark Atkinson or Simon Colosimo became free agents.

"The Rufers have been told that the playing staff they have now is what they will have for the season."

Turner said he would not be turning to Christchurch businessman Kevin Clarke and his Canterbury Management Group for help.

"CMG have worked with us in getting Mark Burton and Arran Lines to the Football Kingz - end of story."

Soccer Australia bosses met Carlton officials in Melbourne yesterday for ongoing discussions on the club's future. One bid to rescue the cash-strapped club has already been rejected, but Soccer Australia are considering a second.

Meanwhile, Turner has rejected suggestions that his club had complained to Soccer Australia over "derogatory and racist" comments aimed at their German striker, Dennis Ibrahim.

"If we had thought there had been such an issue, we would raise it with the club concerned," Turner said. "That is not the case and we have made no complaints.

"We will, however, be part of Fifa and Soccer Australia's effort to decry racism in soccer.

"Players from both teams will wear red overshirts at Ericsson Stadium tonight which will carry a message asking fans to give racism the red card."

While Wynton Rufer has yet to name a starting XI, it seems there will be few changes from the team who lost to Marconi, although injured striker Paul Urlovic will be missing and Rufer will play.

There may be a place for Chilean striker Aaron Silva on the substitutes' bench.

The game starts at 7.30 pm.