Soccer: Kingz 'delighted' with results of NSL review

The Football Kingz are "delighted" with the Australian National Soccer League taskforce's recommendation that a revamped competition should have a New Zealand team.

In a document released through the Australian Soccer Association yesterday, the taskforce opted for a new 10-club competition to start next November.

The preferred model has three teams from Sydney, two from Melbourne, one each from Adelaide, Perth and Brisbane, plus two others, with preference for one of those to be from New Zealand.

Kingz general manager Peter Cox said today the Auckland-based club believed the taskforce had done the right thing to redesign the competition from scratch.

"While it gives the whole NSL a fresh start, it also affords us a new opportunity to make a fresh start," he said.

"There is a strong expectation that we will be there, which is great. I think that message has come out loud and clear. We're delighted."

Cox believed the cash-strapped Kingz, who are lying bottom of the present 13-club table in their fifth season in the NSL, could meet the financial criteria outlined in the taskforce document.

Teams are expected to need a minimum budget of A$3.5 million ($4.04 million) a season, including player payments of up to A$1.5 million.

"Our fear was that the financial levels might be more difficult," Cox said.

"But they are not too far out from what we were planning for next year."

He said he did not expect any rival group to challenge the Kingz "at this moment" for the proposed New Zealand spot in a new league.

"I know there are people interested and, while I will be chatting with our board in the next day or two about how to move forward, I would hope our view will be an inclusive one," he said.

"We have a strong brand, we have a lot of experience in the league, we have built up a presence and we have licensing arrangements in place. All those things are invaluable."

New Zealand Soccer chief executive Bill MacGowan also welcomed the recommendation for a continuing New Zealand presence in the NSL.

MacGowan added that the Kingz "obviously have a frontrunning in this".

"If you are already there and you are the incumbent, you have always got a chance," he said.

As to whether the Kingz might be face a challenge, MacGowan said speculation was part of sport.

"But I have not heard of any other entity that is serious about it," he said.

"There may be some that come out of the woodwork, now that the report is out."

On Sunday, former All White Sam Malcolmson said he still had a desire to promote a team for the NSL and had backers.

The taskforce's timeline give parties interested in participating until April to register, with the successful applicants to be announced in late June.

It revealed that NSL clubs had lost A$52 million over the past three seasons and said the present competition structure could no longer be sustained.

- NZPA