KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's chance of having a team in next season's A-League is now totally dependent on the national body factoring a deal to get a bid across the line.
In a surprise about-face, Football Federation Australia yesterday handed New Zealand Soccer a lifeline by extending the deadline to
present a watertight proposal until March 1.
Until now, today's FFA board meeting in Sydney had been seen as the last opportunity for a New Zealand consortium to present a bid capable of taking over the Hyundai A-League licence surrendered by Octagon Sports - the owners of the New Zealand Knights franchise until last December.
Last night, FFA operations manager Matt Carroll reiterated his desire to see a New Zealand-based team in the 2007-08 league but said for that to succeed NZ Soccer had to be involved.
"We had a teleconference with NZ Soccer today," said Carroll. "We discussed the withdrawal of the Auckland bid [on Tuesday] and the Wellington bid and proposed a way forward. I'm still awaiting an official response to that."
NZ Soccer chief executive Graham Seatter said he had discussed the latest developments with board chairman John Morris. Both were of the opinion that everything within their power must be done to make it happen.
Carroll backed that further last night by saying that if the issue can be resolved, the FFA may allow NZ Soccer to hold the licence and then sub-let it to another interested party.
Carroll admitted the four million television viewer base for A-League games here was attractive and that no potential licensee in Australia could offer that but said that if NZ Soccer could not make it happen they would be forced to consider other options.
"Absolutely, we are encouraging them [NZS] to make it happen. If that means giving the Wellington - or any other bid - more time we are prepared to listen."
While accepting the Auckland bid had been withdrawn, Carroll is not now accepting that as final and is prepared to work with any group that can provide the necessary facts and figures.
"Maybe the Wellington bid is not quite where it should be but we are prepared to listen," said Carroll.
"We have not yet gone back to the people in Wollongong, Townsville or Canberra, likely Australian bidders, but still regarded as a year out from presenting a firm proposal - at this stage preferring to keep it in the hands of NZ Soccer."
It appears the Alan Sefton-fronted Auckland bid might not be dead and buried with suggestions there could be further discussions with NZ Soccer in the next day or two.
Wellington bid spokesman John Dow said last night he was still awaiting further discussions with Carroll.
"Our proposal was based on meeting certain criteria," said Dow. "We are waiting to hear whether Matt Carroll accepts that. We have a number of different financial models we can apply."
Asked whether the support of a Uruguayan investor in the Manawatu had fallen away thus weakening their bid, Dow said: "I think one of the people involved there is Uruguayan but I haven't heard he has pulled out. There has been a lot of nonsense being thrown about."
NZ Soccer has long maintained they see a successful A-League franchise as being key to on-going international success.
