surely most teams i CL have a bunch of reserves they can call up if the top players are unavailable? Every club has a reserve squad in a grade or two lower than CL. Whinging that you faced the top team and another club faced the reserves is just pathetic!
Central League 2023
surely most teams i CL have a bunch of reserves they can call up if the top players are unavailable? Every club has a reserve squad in a grade or two lower than CL. Whinging that you faced the top team and another club faced the reserves is just pathetic!
If you read the regulation, then in my opinion the Nix have a case to answer.
There is another issue and that is The TAB who takes bets on The Central League. A lucky punter from an earlier post got odds of $70 plus on North Wellington.
I wish to make it clear that I am not casting aspersions but what if someone became aware that a much-weakened team was to be fielded by The Nix then that created the opportunity to have a significant bet on North Wellington at generous odds.
There is a betting contract between NZ Football and the TAB so If they become aware of this there will be a "please explain" sought from NZ Football by the TAB.
If Temple has a new set of wheels, something is fishy.
If Temple has a new set of wheels, something is fishy.
surely most teams i CL have a bunch of reserves they can call up if the top players are unavailable? Every club has a reserve squad in a grade or two lower than CL. Whinging that you faced the top team and another club faced the reserves is just pathetic!
If you read the regulation, then in my opinion the Nix have a case to answer.
There is another issue and that is The TAB who takes bets on The Central League. A lucky punter from an earlier post got odds of $70 plus on North Wellington.
I wish to make it clear that I am not casting aspersions but what if someone became aware that a much-weakened team was to be fielded by The Nix then that created the opportunity to have a significant bet on North Wellington at generous odds.
There is a betting contract between NZ Football and the TAB so If they become aware of this there will be a "please explain" sought from NZ Football by the TAB.
Also available on bet365.
surely most teams i CL have a bunch of reserves they can call up if the top players are unavailable? Every club has a reserve squad in a grade or two lower than CL. Whinging that you faced the top team and another club faced the reserves is just pathetic!
If you read the regulation, then in my opinion the Nix have a case to answer.
There is another issue and that is The TAB who takes bets on The Central League. A lucky punter from an earlier post got odds of $70 plus on North Wellington.
I wish to make it clear that I am not casting aspersions but what if someone became aware that a much-weakened team was to be fielded by The Nix then that created the opportunity to have a significant bet on North Wellington at generous odds.
There is a betting contract between NZ Football and the TAB so If they become aware of this there will be a "please explain" sought from NZ Football by the TAB.
I'm 100% certain there are rules around the players you are allowed to put on the field, but I'd also bet that there are ways to get around those regulations if you ask. I would expect that the Nix have dispensations on a number of things including the players they put on the field under differing circumstances.
The only reason the TAB/Bet365 could get involved would be if someone from either club who had pre-game knowledge made a bet and won a considerable amount - and that would make news.
Isn't there a heavy British influence on the Phoenix academy? I can't imagine they would have any part in lying down for an opponent.
lol
The Phoenix team varying in quality week-by-week is just the nature of reserve teams - it is what it is.
The fact that there's almost no negative implication (relegation) for playing a weaker team is concerning though, and it surprises me that people here argue otherwise. Even though the Phoenix hasn't done anything sinister it certainly stretches the integrity of the competition.
The fact that there's almost no negative implication (relegation) for playing a weaker team is concerning though, and it surprises me that people here argue otherwise. Even though the Phoenix hasn't done anything sinister it certainly stretches the integrity of the competition.
The TAB have no grounds and no right to have input on what squads play what games.
The TAB have no grounds and no right to have input on what squads play what games.
Maybe not but the TAB can withdraw betting on the Central league if they are not happy with the integrity. That would be loss of valuable income for NZ Football who share in the profits.
Isn't there a heavy British influence on the Phoenix academy? I can't imagine they would have any part in lying down for an opponent.
lol
You laugh but if the continentals were involved in the Nix academy they'd be well up for a bit of match fixing, especially the Italians.
And as we all know, the racially superior Anglo-Saxon stock never fixes matches
Yeah proper Anglo-Saxon names in that lot.
WP can do what they want, and I'm hardly a fan of them either
I'm always struck by the number of posters on a WPFC fan forum who don't actually like the Nix
But seriously, these are issues which simply come with the territory of having a Reserves side in the NL. The possibility that this week you'll play the 16 years old is surely balanced out by the possibility that next week you'll have goddamn Kraev and Zawada dropped down
I'm always struck by the number of posters on a WPFC fan forum who don't actually like the Nix
But seriously, these are issues which simply come with the territory of having a Reserves side in the NL. The possibility that this week you'll play the 16 years old is surely balanced out by the possibility that next week you'll have goddamn Kraev and Zawada dropped down
They operate with a superiority complex which far exceeds anything I've ever experienced and seen in Wellington football over several decades.
If you think WPFC are smug and superior, just wait until you see what the new Auckland A-League franchise are like, lol.
Seriously, though: this is also the issue of a pro club playing its lower levels in a (supposedly) amateur league. I don't see any way out of these difficulties as long as there is a sharp division between NZF-led competitions, all obstensibly amateur, and 1 or possibly 2 pro clubs.
Seriously, though: this is also the issue of a pro club playing its lower levels in a (supposedly) amateur league. I don't see any way out of these difficulties as long as there is a sharp division between NZF-led competitions, all obstensibly amateur, and 1 or possibly 2 pro clubs.
If you think WPFC are smug and superior, just wait until you see what the new Auckland A-League franchise are like, lol.
Seriously, though: this is also the issue of a pro club playing its lower levels in a (supposedly) amateur league. I don't see any way out of these difficulties as long as there is a sharp division between NZF-led competitions, all obstensibly amateur, and 1 or possibly 2 pro clubs.
Seriously, though: this is also the issue of a pro club playing its lower levels in a (supposedly) amateur league. I don't see any way out of these difficulties as long as there is a sharp division between NZF-led competitions, all obstensibly amateur, and 1 or possibly 2 pro clubs.
The simplest solution is make the Central league a pro league - hell most of the big clubs are actually paying their players under the guise of being coaches - we all know this is happening.
I wonder whether any of the Aussie NPL clubs have similar issues with playing against A-League youth teams
The TAB have no grounds and no right to have input on what squads play what games.
Maybe not but the TAB can withdraw betting on the Central league if they are not happy with the integrity. That would be loss of valuable income for NZ Football who share in the profits.
If NZF are pandering to betting agencies for scraps of income we have far larger issues than a professional club's reserve side playing in a local amateur league.
WPR played their u18s against NCR on Saturday and lost 4-1 at home.
In the round 7 fixture in Napier they won 3-2.
In the round 7 fixture in Napier they won 3-2.
Look I won't take the WPX seriously as a club until they field a masters team. This is the hill I will die on.
The TAB have no grounds and no right to have input on what squads play what games.
Maybe not but the TAB can withdraw betting on the Central league if they are not happy with the integrity. That would be loss of valuable income for NZ Football who share in the profits.
If NZF are pandering to betting agencies for scraps of income we have far larger issues than a professional club's reserve side playing in a local amateur league.
The TAB provide large income for NZ football. For the 2018 World Cup the TAB took $30M plus of which NZ football got 1% plus a share of the profits. Also take into account betting on the EPL and other leagues around the World which NZ Football get a share of.
Then there is the current Women's World Cup. I do not know what NZ Football is getting out of The Central League currently but a few years ago I recall seeing that The League was attracting Millions in bets with The TAB from overseas countries.
The TAB have no grounds and no right to have input on what squads play what games.
Maybe not but the TAB can withdraw betting on the Central league if they are not happy with the integrity. That would be loss of valuable income for NZ Football who share in the profits.
If NZF are pandering to betting agencies for scraps of income we have far larger issues than a professional club's reserve side playing in a local amateur league.
The TAB provide large income for NZ football. For the 2018 World Cup the TAB took $30M plus of which NZ football got 1% plus a share of the profits. Also take into account betting on the EPL and other leagues around the World which NZ Football get a share of.
Then there is the current Women's World Cup. I do not know what NZ Football is getting out of The Central League currently but a few years ago I recall seeing that The League was attracting Millions in bets with The TAB from overseas countries.
What NZ Football gets from the World Cup and EPL is orders of magnitude greater than what they get from the Central League and the TAB & NZF aren't about to throw away a relationship over a development side developing players.
There may have been a law change in the last decade, but when I was a TAB employee you had to be in NZ to bet with the TAB (you had to show ID in store to open an account). I don't see why someone outside NZ would go out of their way to bet with the TAB when Bet365 offers superior odds on the league without the hoops to jump through. I'd like to see a source because your recollection doesn't seem overly accurate on the face of it.
I can understand why people might be concerned that the Phoenix are using their reserve team to develop players instead of winning the league (although, they are sitting second), but the feelings of a betting agency is not something that needs consideration and indeed should be actively avoided when deciding whether competition regulations have been breached given the opportunities for corruption that would present.
NZF agreements on NL with betting agencies is not exclusive to TAB.
NZF agreements on NL with betting agencies is not exclusive to TAB.
Yeah but no other agency will even look at what squads sides are putting out for an amateur game in a footballing backwater that doesn't even attract a fraction of a % of their turnover, especially given the fact that there's actual corruption in leagues they're offering betting on.
NZF agreements on NL with betting agencies is not exclusive to TAB.
Yeah but no other agency will even look at what squads sides are putting out for an amateur game in a footballing backwater that doesn't even attract a fraction of a % of their turnover, especially given the fact that there's actual corruption in leagues they're offering betting on.
NZF agreements on NL with betting agencies is not exclusive to TAB.
Yeah but no other agency will even look at what squads sides are putting out for an amateur game in a footballing backwater that doesn't even attract a fraction of a % of their turnover, especially given the fact that there's actual corruption in leagues they're offering betting on.
All I'm saying is that NZF aren't about to lose out on significant revenue due to betting agencies unilaterally tearing up contracts because the Phoenix put out a C team instead of a B team. Hardly speculative.
NZF agreements on NL with betting agencies is not exclusive to TAB.
Yeah but no other agency will even look at what squads sides are putting out for an amateur game in a footballing backwater that doesn't even attract a fraction of a % of their turnover, especially given the fact that there's actual corruption in leagues they're offering betting on.
All I'm saying is that NZF aren't about to lose out on significant revenue due to betting agencies unilaterally tearing up contracts because the Phoenix put out a C team instead of a B team. Hardly speculative.
cool but you are still being speculative as you have no idea.
These $ are relied on by NZF, and your C v B take aside, any loss of integrity in the league could jeopardise that.
If you think WPFC are smug and superior, just wait until you see what the new Auckland A-League franchise are like, lol.
Seriously, though: this is also the issue of a pro club playing its lower levels in a (supposedly) amateur league. I don't see any way out of these difficulties as long as there is a sharp division between NZF-led competitions, all obstensibly amateur, and 1 or possibly 2 pro clubs.
Seriously, though: this is also the issue of a pro club playing its lower levels in a (supposedly) amateur league. I don't see any way out of these difficulties as long as there is a sharp division between NZF-led competitions, all obstensibly amateur, and 1 or possibly 2 pro clubs.
The simplest solution is make the Central league a pro league - hell most of the big clubs are actually paying their players under the guise of being coaches - we all know this is happening.
but then those clubs lose any ability to get grant money - not as simple as it seems.
If you think WPFC are smug and superior, just wait until you see what the new Auckland A-League franchise are like, lol.
Seriously, though: this is also the issue of a pro club playing its lower levels in a (supposedly) amateur league. I don't see any way out of these difficulties as long as there is a sharp division between NZF-led competitions, all obstensibly amateur, and 1 or possibly 2 pro clubs.
Seriously, though: this is also the issue of a pro club playing its lower levels in a (supposedly) amateur league. I don't see any way out of these difficulties as long as there is a sharp division between NZF-led competitions, all obstensibly amateur, and 1 or possibly 2 pro clubs.
The simplest solution is make the Central league a pro league - hell most of the big clubs are actually paying their players under the guise of being coaches - we all know this is happening.
but then those clubs lose any ability to get grant money - not as simple as it seems.
True, you'd have to change the funding model somehow, a professional club could get grants from the pokie $$$$. The mney would have to come from NZF in some manner.
We keep having this conversation. The guy from Stuff who did the big exposé on ACFC/Trillian Trust came to the conclusion that the way out was to make the National League semi-pro. But where is the money coming from, considering the unsustainable nature of the semi-pro set-up in the 80s and 90s, and back then you could get tobacco sponsorship? And what would it mean for the Nix and any putative Auckland A-League team?
If NZF were to take grant money and put it in a central pot and redistribute the money evenly to national league teams and then have a tiered allowance to the regional phase teams it could navigate the funding issue.
The clubs can supplement the rest with sponsorship and hospo. Some clubs are “better” set up to cream money from their juniors, but that’s something that you can’t really stop.
The hard part is actually trusting NZF to manage the funds.
Someone told me once that TW had to pay an annual franchise fee of $20k so even if the central pot didn’t exactly pay all the bills it could at least cover the cost of participation.
The clubs can supplement the rest with sponsorship and hospo. Some clubs are “better” set up to cream money from their juniors, but that’s something that you can’t really stop.
The hard part is actually trusting NZF to manage the funds.
Someone told me once that TW had to pay an annual franchise fee of $20k so even if the central pot didn’t exactly pay all the bills it could at least cover the cost of participation.
If NZF were to take grant money and put it in a central pot and redistribute the money evenly to national league teams and then have a tiered allowance to the regional phase teams it could navigate the funding issue.
The clubs can supplement the rest with sponsorship and hospo. Some clubs are “better” set up to cream money from their juniors, but that’s something that you can’t really stop.
The hard part is actually trusting NZF to manage the funds.
Someone told me once that TW had to pay an annual franchise fee of $20k so even if the central pot didn’t exactly pay all the bills it could at least cover the cost of participation.
The clubs can supplement the rest with sponsorship and hospo. Some clubs are “better” set up to cream money from their juniors, but that’s something that you can’t really stop.
The hard part is actually trusting NZF to manage the funds.
Someone told me once that TW had to pay an annual franchise fee of $20k so even if the central pot didn’t exactly pay all the bills it could at least cover the cost of participation.
how does that solve it - the grant funders will want to know their money is going to fund programmes that are community based - they won't accept funding a pro league.
If NZF were to take grant money and put it in a central pot and redistribute the money evenly to national league teams and then have a tiered allowance to the regional phase teams it could navigate the funding issue.
The clubs can supplement the rest with sponsorship and hospo. Some clubs are “better” set up to cream money from their juniors, but that’s something that you can’t really stop.
The hard part is actually trusting NZF to manage the funds.
Someone told me once that TW had to pay an annual franchise fee of $20k so even if the central pot didn’t exactly pay all the bills it could at least cover the cost of participation.
The clubs can supplement the rest with sponsorship and hospo. Some clubs are “better” set up to cream money from their juniors, but that’s something that you can’t really stop.
The hard part is actually trusting NZF to manage the funds.
Someone told me once that TW had to pay an annual franchise fee of $20k so even if the central pot didn’t exactly pay all the bills it could at least cover the cost of participation.
how does that solve it - the grant funders will want to know their money is going to fund programmes that are community based - they won't accept funding a pro league.
Yeah fair call. I was thinking more along the lines of what happens to the funds from horse racing but I didn’t really think about what the trusts would want.
Western Suburbs V Nix Reserves thos weekend. Which team are the Nix going to put out and how will that effect the top 4.
Western Suburbs V Nix Reserves thos weekend. Which team are the Nix going to put out and how will that effect the top 4.
Give the fFA cup on Sunday I'd expect some of the reserves might be in Melbourne already, so there could be a couple of absentees.
Western Suburbs V Nix Reserves thos weekend. Which team are the Nix going to put out and how will that effect the top 4.
Give the fFA cup on Sunday I'd expect some of the reserves might be in Melbourne already, so there could be a couple of absentees.
If they weren’t in Melbourne most of them they still wouldn’t be available as they would be in Auckland playing against PNG.
Late Josh Tollervey double sinks West's 2-1 at Jerry Collins Stadium. Makes it 10 on the season too, not a bad return for a lad who's only played 7-8 games due to injury.
Pretty sure Roberts in the West's goal completely fluffed the attempted save on that second goal as well, but without any other angles available on YT coverage we'll just have to say it's a decent strike from an acute angle to grab the winner.
Pretty sure Roberts in the West's goal completely fluffed the attempted save on that second goal as well, but without any other angles available on YT coverage we'll just have to say it's a decent strike from an acute angle to grab the winner.
Karori vs Petone was an absolutely filthy match, 12 yellows and 1 red. Coaches slagging off players and players slagging off coaches with officials being caught in the middle. Some challenges that might get you sent off in rugby and at least one instance of a Karori player stomping an opponents knee that wasn't picked up.
Karori deservedly won 4-3.
10 out of 10 entertainment, would go laugh at again.
Karori deservedly won 4-3.
10 out of 10 entertainment, would go laugh at again.
Karori vs Petone was an absolutely filthy match, 12 yellows and 1 red. Coaches slagging off players and players slagging off coaches with officials being caught in the middle. Some challenges that might get you sent off in rugby and at least one instance of a Karori player stomping an opponents knee that wasn't picked up.
Karori deservedly won 4-3.
10 out of 10 entertainment, would go laugh at again.
Karori deservedly won 4-3.
10 out of 10 entertainment, would go laugh at again.
High scoring, but was there much in terms of quality?
Karori vs Petone was an absolutely filthy match, 12 yellows and 1 red. Coaches slagging off players and players slagging off coaches with officials being caught in the middle. Some challenges that might get you sent off in rugby and at least one instance of a Karori player stomping an opponents knee that wasn't picked up.
Karori deservedly won 4-3.
10 out of 10 entertainment, would go laugh at again.
Karori deservedly won 4-3.
10 out of 10 entertainment, would go laugh at again.
High scoring, but was there much in terms of quality?
Not really, game sort of devolved due to the incessant fouls from Karori. Probably should've had a couple more sent off imo. Petone keeper made some absolutely fantastic saves though, highlight reel stuff including a penalty. Goals were decent overall but midfield for both teams an absolute shambles.