Soccer: Football Kingz dismiss reports of disharmony

Football Kingz general manager Chris Turner has condemned what he terms "mischievous" reporting of disharmony at the Auckland-based National Soccer League (NSL) side.

Suggestions of a player revolt against coach Kevin Fallon's training methods and of the disintegration of the relationship between Fallon and his assistant Shane Rufer were dismissed by Turner.

"We've got no time for that at all," he said.

"We can be criticised as much as we can, and that is no problem. If people want to criticise and offer opinion, that's fine, but to quote inside sources and not put a name to it is just not on.

"In fact, it's been pretty unsettling for the team, quoting revolts and all that sort of thing. If they put a name to it, even if we disagree, that's no problem at all."

Reports of disharmony and a falling out between Fallon and Rufer have featured in the last two editions of a Sunday newspaper.

Turner said a meeting he held with the team last week was not unusual. He met the team from time to time, although it was spelled out to the players last week that the 0-3 loss to Adelaide on December 22 had been "unacceptable".

Turner also said reports of a meeting to be held between Fallon and Rufer over Rufer's position were incorrect.

Rufer confirmed today that he was still the Kingz' assistant coach. Any other questions had to be directed to Kingz general manager Chris Turner, Rufer said.

"We've been told not to speak to anybody," Rufer said.

The Kingz' first match of the New Year is at home on Friday night against Sydney side Olympic Sharks.

Olympic last week beat the previously unbeaten Perth Glory, the NSL leaders, who dealt the Kingz a record 2-7 defeat earlier this season.

The Kingz face them after a loss to Adelaide which Turner then described as the side's "worst of the season by some distance".

That was a comment he repeated today, saying the bottom-of-the-table Kingz' biggest concern was to start winning some games.

"When you're down the bottom of the table we deserve criticism: constructive criticism," Turner said.

"Of course there's a lot of unhappiness. We're not happy with where we are at all and I know the players and we all believe we are a better team than that, and there's only one place to change that and that's on the field."

The Kingz will have a new signing eligible for Friday's game, with former Kingz winger Jeff Campbell having been signed over the Christmas break from Adelaide.

Turner also confirmed striker Campbell Banks had agreed personal terms with the club.

However, the search for a new defender goes on.

"We've chased really hard for three weeks and we actually had somebody but his contract runs out at the end of the season and his club wants to keep him there and watch him to decide whether they will offer him another contract," Turner said.

- NZPA