Hello there,
I think there is a little bit of confusion and misunderstanding about the rules of the league as regards youth players this year which has unfairly led to people having a pop at Declan (and Harry).
I will try and clear this up.
Waikato FC sent out a memo to all clubs and schools in July advising they were calling for nominations for their youth team. The eligibility critieria this summer has changed, and players need to be eligible to represent NZ at the next U20 Champs. The cut-off birth date is January 1, 1992.
I understand that means the likes of Tom Crawford, and many others are ineligible for the youth team. I imagine the likes of Jordan Shaw and Van Ewart may also be in that camp.
They can still try out of Waikato's senior team of course, though in the case of Crawford, he will be competing against the likes of Adam Thomas, Matteo Ballan and Jason Hicks, who all played very well on saturday.
But he is NOT competing against the likes of youngsters such as Harry Edge for a youth team spot.
To repeat from my earlier post, the regulations say teams then have to name six players in their senior squad. So, dont blame Harry if you don't like it, blame NZ Football.
I am only speculating, but perhaps Tom popped along to training and saw that, tidy player that he is, he was not going to quite cut it against the likes of Thomas, Hicks etc?
Appreciate any feedback on that scenario.
So, you ask, how was it that these players had perhaps been approached by Dave Edmondson but not Declan? I suspect there has been an internal misunderstanding, with coaching staff only belatedly informed of NZ Football's eligibility critieria, and some players 'signed' may have found themselves unsigned even if Dave was still in charge.
In the cicumstances I cant see that Declan Edge has acted untoward in any manner so far, though invite anyone to show differently.
I agree that it is difficult when dads and sons are involved: Declan has now seen it from both sides. Roger Wilkinson got the same stick, and so did Steve williams when they were coachign our national league teams here.
But I would point out Declan was coaching long before kids were in the frame. he has been, to date Waikato FC's most successful coach, making the playoffs in the inaugural season. At the time i don't recall anyone saying he had ulterior motives.
Humbug raised a valid point about Melville players such as Tyler Lisette and jesse smith playing for Wellington last summer, rather than Waikato
This was something that concerned me, albeit for slightly different reasons.
The fact is these lads went where it was perceived they would most get a game. They were not in the selection frame in the waikato, but saw a potential opening in Wellington. To my mind that is astute management by someone to get a couple of teenagers game time. However from my perspective as a local club administrator it rang alarm bells, because of the danger good kids might also be lost for the winter.
The irony here today is that largely because of the good work done by Edge, competition to get into the waikato Youth squad will be fierce. Good young players may miss out because better young players are perceived to be ahead of them, and may also trek elsewhere. it's the old supply and demand thing, isn't it?
This embarassment of riches will inevitably leave some unhappy campers. But that's football. the Waikato youth team is being coached by Paul Nixon, with a development squad under that being coached by Merv Williams.
Anyway, hope this clarifies a few things and adds to the collective understanding out there.
If not, come back armed with plenty of facts. I'm tired of doing all the research on this one.
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