KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Knights will receive no help from the sport's national body to keep them on the football field for the rest of the season or beyond.
But New Zealand Soccer has made it clear it is keen to do all within its powers to ensure the
A-League licence remains in the country.
NZS chief executive Graham Seatter will meet Football Federation Australia operations manager Matt Carroll today before revealing plans that should ensure the club's survival.
Seatter yesterday emphasised New Zealand Soccer will not be committing one dollar of association funds into any salvage operation.
"We have 350 clubs in New Zealand, we can't be seen to be prioritising one. There is no way we could support the Knights and ignore the NZFC."
Seatter did say that if the Knights were restructured to get more New Zealand players involved, it could influence thinking on any changes to the NZFC.
NZS will not be taking an operational role with the beleaguered club, which has been pitched into never-never land with the revoking of the Hyundai A-League licence held, until Thursday night, by Octagon Sports.
"There is no way I am going to take the chief executive role at both NZS and the Knights," said Seatter.
"There might, however, be a new Knights board which could include four or five NZS appointees."
Paramount to the club's survival - either as the Knights or as a new entity - is sorting out the financial mess.
Seatter says getting through the next five weeks - when the Knights play their last scheduled match at North Harbour Stadium on January 21 against Perth Glory - is the priority.
He said on Friday the FFA offered all contracted players what amounted to a signing-on fee which would guarantee their wages for the next 13 weeks. "The FFA are prepared to commit around A$400,000 [$453,000] to pay the players," said Seatter.
"It must be seen as payment for the next 13 weeks, however, and definitely not a payment to cover wages which we understand were due last Wednesday but not paid by the previous owners.
"The FFA and NZS can in no way be seen to be paying unpaid wage bills.
"I'm already aware of other creditors around the city who are looking for monies owed. They would be quick to form a queue if it was thought the FFA, or anyone else, was prepared to meet any debts."
Seatter added that he was aware of player concerns about unfilled contracts, with some players holding contracts through to the end of the 2007-08 season after signing initial three-year deals.
"Those players have no claim on the FFA or anyone other than Octagon Sports."
It is understood at least five players are holding long-term contracts with Octagon.
Of future planning, Seatter said he was unaware of a January 31 deadline which had been set by the FFA for New Zealand Soccer to come up with a salvage plan.
"It could be they are looking for us to have something concrete in place in terms of our ongoing strategy, rather than showing that the necessary funding is in place," said Seatter.
"There has been talk of a total operational budget of between $4-5 million.
"We need to break it down and look at it more realistically. The FFA, through the Fox Sports broadcasting contract, provides each club with A$1.2 million each year.
"If you got a crowd of 5000 for your home games, attracted some sponsors and other people prepared to act as backers, I'm sure you would be thereabouts.
"I will be talking to our board members and others in the hope of tapping into the networks within our sport."
Aside from the financial implications, Seatter sees a real positive in closely aligning the national body's coaching resources with the franchise.
"We are on the verge of something really promising, given the new route Oceania will take through Asia towards the 2010 World Cup. There is the real hope the All Whites can win through the Oceania rounds and pick up 10 World Cup qualifiers and three Confederation Cup matches before the World Cup.
"Having as many of our best players, and those seen as being crucial to our ongoing success, training here with the national coach on a daily basis is exciting."
THE STORY SO FAR
* On Thursday, Football Federation Australia revokes the Knights' licence
* All Whites coach Ricki Herbert appointed caretaker coach for remaining five games of season
* Players meet FFA officials on Friday amid concerns over contracts
* On Saturday, Herbert picks his first team for away game against Melbourne the next day, but only nine of current squad make the flight
* Che Bunce walks off the plane at Auckland Airport
