Soccer: We want out, say Socceroos

Australia is preparing a move out of the Oceania Football Confederation to join the Asians in a move resisted by New Zealand Soccer.

While the move would make New Zealand the strongest OFC nation, soccer bosses say losing the confederation's biggest fish would be a curse rather than a blessing.

A statement from Football Federation Australia yesterday outlined the plan which would see Australia become a full member of the Asian Football Confederation and cut all ties with the OFC.

In the statement, FFA chairman Frank Lowy said: "For some time now, the FFA has had an objective to join AFC. Our current affiliation leaves Australia in an anomalous situation in a football sense."

The release said the FFA was seeking to join the AFC.

Other sources from across the Tasman are adamant it is a done deal and OFC will lose its most influential member.

Under the move the OFC would, apparently, retain all its rights including direct entry to all Fifa tournaments (apart from the World Cup) including the Olympics.

There is also a strong suggestion the OFC winner would play the fifth-placed Asian, rather than South American, team for the last place in World Cups from 2010.

As the strongest OFC nation, New Zealand would be well-placed to play at the highest level.

That, some might say, would be a major incentive to let Australia go.

However, NZS chief executive Graham Seatter disagreed, saying the organisation was not giving up on Australia without a battle.

"I don't believe it would be good for New Zealand. We have suffered by being in the weakest Fifa confederation. Without Australia we would be further weakened and we will suffer more," he said.

"Without Australia, we would lose much of our bargaining power and revenue streams. The best we could aspire to would be being the best of 10 island nations. There is a lot of water to flow under the bridge before this happens"

Seater said Australia would never come back to the confederation if it left.

"Going there will give Australia meaningful competition and the gates that go with it," he said.

"The many commercial realities will be unlocked - that's the reason Australia wants to go.

"It is not a done deal. Australia have only come clean on it in the last week."

Seatter and NZS chairman John Morris were given details at a meeting in Australia last week.

It is understood Asia will invite Australia in at their March 23 meeting and will then make a recommendation to Fifa.

OFC general secretary Tai Nicholas said he was taking a "wait-and-see" attitude but admits that Lowy has in the past got what he wants.

He said he could see some advantages for New Zealand and the island nations, but more talking is needed.

The OFC executive will meet on April 15 in New Caledonia.