Soccer: Ward on familiar stage after Greek tragedy

Nick Ward. Photo / Getty Images

It wasn't a Greek tragedy in the true sense but Phoenix midfielder Nick Ward was stuck in his own dramatic episode after a "crazy" stint with Iraklis Thessaloniki in the Greek Superleague.

The midfielder's story is one of drama, deceit, forgery and corruption and makes anything his Phoenix team-mates went through during the Terry Serepisos saga seem like an amateur production.

In the end he did what any sane footballer would and left the show.

Ward left the Phoenix at the end of last season optimistic he would fulfil his ambition to play in Europe. He secured a handful of trials before signing with Iraklis.

He knew the club was going through a difficult period, having been relegated to the Football League after the president forged documents around a transfer, but club officials were confident they would have the decision overturned. Ward thought it was a risk worth taking.

It looked to be a good decision when a court ruled in favour of the club and they were reinstated to the top flight. Three days later, however, the Greek football association refused to accept the court's decision and, as further punishment, stripped the club of their professional licence and demoted them to the semi-professional Delta Ethniki.

It was then Ward knew he needed to get out. He hadn't been paid for eight weeks and felt there was no future at the club. He wasn't even sure there was a future for him in the Superleague given it started without three teams.

"That's how crazy it is over there," Ward says. "The way the Greeks go about things is pretty bad. The way they lie to your face and don't really seem to care ... we come from a different way of doing things. It was also pretty stressful because I had signed this agreement with this club and they tell you they are going to pay you and then they don't. They always said, 'we'll pay you tomorrow'. They never did.

"It was disappointing because I thought it would be a good opportunity to play in the Superleague. Everyone says you run the risk of getting paid late in Greece but if you have a good year the big clubs will sign you up."

Ward saw the Phoenix had come under new ownership and decided to get back in touch with coach Ricki Herbert. The timing was perfect for both parties and Ward returned to Wellington a fortnight ago, just five days before the start of the new A-League season.

"It was an easy decision for me because I had been there before and knew all the boys and knew the city. It was an easy move. I needed something quickly and needed to get back quickly so I would make the first game of the season.

"The feel of the club is the same [under new ownership]. The boys are all similar and it's a strong core group. If we can keep that group fit and healthy and add another couple of players, I think we can give it a really good go this year."

Ward was pitched into action off the bench in last weekend's 1-1 draw with the Gold Coast but will start against Newcastle today in place of the injured Vince Lia (knee).

Ward's inclusion tomorrow will be one of two changes to the side that started against the Gold Coast, with Tony Warner starting in place of Mark Paston (ribs).

Wellington will bank on continuing their good form at home that has seen them defeated only twice in their last 29 games at the Cake Tin. If they can do that, they will be contenders for the playoffs. If not, Ward will endure another tragedy.