Soccer: Tough decisions in Knights shakeup

The shake-up at the New Zealand Knights has an ominous ring about it with star turns Zenon Caravella and Jeremy Brockie among those likely to play against rather than for the franchise next season.

Caravella is on trial with fellow A-League club Queensland Roar who are playing the Tongyeong Cup in Korea. He started on the bench in their shock 1-0 first-up win over Incheon United with former Knights player Steve Fitzsimmons scoring the only goal of the match.

It is understood Brockie has had approaches from clubs across the Tasman including Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets.

All White Jeremy Christie has also had an offer from the West Australian club and said a move there was "certainly an option".

He said he had yet to be offered anything by the Knights with football manager John Adshead telling him "there is no rush". But Christie is keen to remain in Auckland.

"If everything was going to be right, I would love to stay in Auckland and play here," he said. "But, I would not be surprised if they tried to call my bluff."

Dreadlocked Brockie, who struggled for game time early in the inaugural season, came into his own as the season progressed and attracted something of a folk following at the stadium showing out as a player with X factor.

Adshead, who was at the All Whites games against Malaysia, said "no [New Zealand] players leapt out at us. We did not see anything like a [Sasho] Petrovski or a [Alex] Brosque. That's what we are looking for."

Adshead said he and head coach Paul Nevin would have another look at the videos from the matches adding, "who knows, we might be talking to one or two All Whites".

Adshead said seven of the current squad were likely to be back next season. All were on two or three-year contracts.

"I haven't signed any new players at this stage. We have seriously looked at three or four," said Adshead. "The rest, those on one-year contracts, are free agents. They are in charge of their own destiny.

"Of course, they have all been spoken to."

Adshead admitted already there have been big changes in clubs in Australia with a number of players who have been discarded approaching the Knights.

Asked whether the emphasis is more on players in Australia or "the other side of the world" Adshead replied: "Australia. To bring a player from England, he would need to be of the highest quality.

"We can't be caught out again."