From Niche Cache's Ukraine game wrap up. Seems a fair assessment for the moment. Still a chance Dyer could break into the squad.
For what it's worth Ireland's 24 man squad for June friendlies against Senegal & Luxembourg had one LOI player. Defender Josh Honohan (Shamrock Rovers).
Without Woodsy, it was Ben Waine who was rotated into the nine position after Kosta Barbarouses had his chance in the first match. Sharing it around between the back-up strikers... which is one of the few positions in the squad which still feels unsettled.
Kosta would appear to be slightly ahead of Waine, though either could have missed out if Max Mata had been fit, dunno. Barbarouses is expected to sign with Western Sydney Wanderers, Ben Waine has been released by Plymouth Argyle, and Max Mata has been recalled by Shrewsbury Town so they’re all in fluctuating situations.
Right now it feels like: 1. Barbarouses, 2. Waine, 3. Mata (and 4. Moses Dyer) but there’s plenty of water to go under that bridge.
I imagine the next 2 months is pretty crucial re any hopes Dyer has of breaking into the AWs. He's sitting on 9 goals from 18 LOI games.
The goal production falls away, he's a no show. But if he does keep it up, he may just force Baze's hand for either the Sept, Oct or Nov windows.
Mata got recalled to the AWs from the LOI. In his first spell with Sligo, before going to Shrewsbury he had 18 goals in 50 games. Of course Mata also has some value with allowing others to play off him etc like May did at Auckland.
Dyer is building a case that he deserves a look at for at least 1 window, but yeah he needs to keep scoring.
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) June 23, 2025
But unlucky there- I would guess the gaffer might have said see if you can get him riled and sent off… Wasn’t much in it, but I guess they’re strict on retaliation?
Surely if clubs are triggering his release clause then we are out of the race. If we can't pay to keep Sutton, Wooten, or Kosta then we definitely wouldn't spend for Dyer.
Still one of the strangest moves of recent time, but it sounds like it's a done deal.
The League of Ireland's top scorer Moses Dyer is relocating to Cambodia after landing a package worth over $100,000 (€85k) per year after tax.
Dyer said goodbye to his Galway United teammates during the week after a release clause in his contract was triggered.
He is bound for Phnom Penh Crown, a club based in the capital of Cambodia.
It's a deal that has raised eyebrows given that Dyer only joined United over the winter and has been a major success, scoring ten times to move to the top of the league charts.
The 28-year-old New Zealand international arrived in Connacht via stints in Norway, America and Canada and the journeyman has packed his bags again to start a new life in Asia.
It's understood that the release clause in or around the €30,000 mark effectively matches the transfer fee that Phnom Penh Crown have just received for the sale of Cambodian international Seut Barang to domestic rivals Svay Rieng.
But it's the wage on offer that helps to explain why Dyer has opted for another fresh start, as sources with a knowledge of the deal have indicated that modest personal tax rates and a lucrative offer mean the Kiwi is signing a deal worth a six figure amount after tax with accommodation also factored into the arrangement.
Dyer was sent off in Monday's Connacht derby with Sligo Rovers in what turned out to be the final appearance of a brief but memorable stay.
Wouldn't say that's earth shattering money (so hopefully he's got a 2-3 year deal for himself) but that will still go an exceptionally long way over there in what is one of the poorest parts of the world.
And because we're an educational place here $100,000 USD = $165,000 NZD = ៛400,000,000 KHR or Cambodian Riel.
Maybe he hates cooking. He can probably eat out every day there and save $164k of that $165k pre tax. Then after 12 mths be half way to an Auckland house deposit!
But move shuts the door on an AWs return. I imagine he will fill his boots there. He’s a strong boy, so cue videos of local footballers being sent flying in a bump off.
Hopefully he behaves himself better than ex Nixer Brandon Wilson in Phnom Penh
Financially probably the right decision for him. He will be able to set himself up... something he probably hasn't done, having played in journeyman leagues.
Seems an odd decision though. Kinda like Oscar to China. If he breaks through to a League One side or somewhere equivalent he could manage a decent career and some very good paydays . This shuts down that future possibility. And shuts him out of All White potential when there is a large opportunity.
Wonder who he’s listening to that organised this one.
Maybe Bazeley studied all the LOI footage and just told Dyer sorry but you ain’t really in the picture and at age 28, it’s hard to see that changing. Who knows
But watching Baze on the Unused Subs podcast he does communicate openly and honestly with players on the fringe.
Never been to Cambodia but from what I’ve read PP can be a bit dodgy. Still I guess like ADJ in Sth Africa you just adapt to your surroundings
So if hes on $165,000 net NZ$ in Cambodia how does that compare to an A League wage for a senior player? Doesnt seem much. I would be surprised if the Nix could find a striker internationally who would come to Wellington for that sort of money.
Does seem odd, although like others have said, probably easy to save most of that salary given the accomodation benefit and cheap cost of living.
I haven't been to Phnom Penh (or Cambodia for that matter), but most of the tourists try and get out of the city as soon as possible. Hope it's not too brutal of a culture shock, compared to Thailand, Bali, or other South East Asian countries which seem a bit better set up for tourists.
Does seem odd, although like others have said, probably easy to save most of that salary given the accomodation benefit and cheap cost of living.
I haven't been to Phnom Penh (or Cambodia for that matter), but most of the tourists try and get out of the city as soon as possible. Hope it's not too brutal of a culture shock, compared to Thailand, Bali, or other South East Asian countries which seem a bit better set up for tourists.
I haven't been there for 15 years. But imagine he will be in the safe/rich parts of the city. So no real issues. Life will be easy for him and he will get paid to do what he loves.
So if hes on $165,000 net NZ$ in Cambodia how does that compare to an A League wage for a senior player? Doesnt seem much. I would be surprised if the Nix could find a striker internationally who would come to Wellington for that sort of money.
I'd say that'd be a base/low salary for most players in the A-league.
Keen to see how he goes.
So if he ends up top scorer (or close to it) for this league, does he get back into All white frame? He's competing against Mata (League 1?) Waine (L1?).
So if hes on $165,000 net NZ$ in Cambodia how does that compare to an A League wage for a senior player? Doesnt seem much. I would be surprised if the Nix could find a striker internationally who would come to Wellington for that sort of money.
I'd say that'd be a base/low salary for most players in the A-league.
Keen to see how he goes.
So if he ends up top scorer (or close to it) for this league, does he get back into All white frame? He's competing against Mata (League 1?) Waine (L1?).
Close to zero chance he returns to the AWs if he goes to Cambodia. You ever met an 85 kg, 190 cm Khmer person who you think would make a rugged quality football defender? Chunky Dyer should cause havoc.
He may have already have had an open and honest discussion with Bazeley, and been told by Baze his WC chances are low. Mata, Rogerson, Greive and ADJ who all missed being picked for June, maybe are all rated ahead of Moses.
Dyer has scored some absolute bangers this season for Galway, but Bazeley with targeted video analysis will be watching all the other stuff we don't, about other parts of MD's game in the LOI. Who knows for sure.
Dyer probably wasn’t going to earn an All Whites recall for the World Cup playing out of Ireland but he’d got himself back into the conversation. Hard to see that continuing while he’s playing in Cambodia... granted, there are always other factors involved. Dyer only recently announced his engagement to his partner Layla and Cambodia is much closer to Aotearoa than Ireland. Plus a big contract offer combined with minimal income tax means he’s going to be earning six figures in USD and let’s be honest very few of us would turn that down.
John Caulfield, Galway Utd coach: “Look, it’s been ongoing for eight or ten weeks. He wants to go closer to home. The World Cup is next year and he wants to make the New Zealand panel. He thinks that going to Oceania is better for him and I think he’s spoken to the management of New Zealand over that. So that obviously played its part. At the moment, he’s still our player. Obviously there’s money involved. But we’ve known it for a while.
Moses has done well when he played for us. But in modern football, nowadays, you know we signed him last November and he insisted on a clause with his agent because he had a choice of staying in Canada and we went for that. And I s’pose like everything it’s a challenge but after twenty games he’s top goal scorer and we’re happy with that. We wish him well.”
Phnom Penh Crown were second in the Cambodian league last year but have won it more times than any other club. They’re regulars in Asian continental competitions (they were in the same group as Macarthur in the AFC Cup last year, winning 3-0 at home and losing 5-0 away). This is a strong and ambitious team and Dyer should score plenty of goals with them.
Research is a bit tricky on this but at least two NZ-born players featured in last year’s Cambodian PL. They were Aarun Lim, formerly of Melville United (born in NZ but an age-grade international for Cambodia), who played for Tiffy Army though has just made the switch to Boeung Ket for the upcoming season; and also Ashnarvy Mustapha, once of Petone (and also aligned with Cambodia internationally), who signed with Visakha though it’s not clear if he played much/at all and he’s now back in NZ with Christchurch United.
Finally they’ve got around to announcing this one. Moses Dyer to Cambodia. Release clause triggered, payrise offered. Dyer leaves Galway United after scoring 10 goals in 20 appearances, winning LOI Player of the Month in April, and his last act for the club was getting sent off in a derby game. In other words, it was a short time but a very good time.
Now we’ll see if he can carry that form into the Phnom Penh Crown and perhaps win a trophy or two while he’s at it. This is not a move that’ll do anything for his All Whites chances but it should be a fun experience for a bloke who has already played in Norway, Canada, USA, and Ireland. If you want more of a breakdown of this move, have a look here because it’s already been written.
Up Next: The new CPL season starts with Boeung Ket vs PP Crown at 11pm on 17 August (NZT)
Moses Dyer is not a Krud Cambodian Super Cup winner unfortunately. First apperance in Cambodia today, but losing 5-3 on penalties to Svay Rieng, after extra time finished at 2-2.
Did land an assist for the equalizing goal to bring it back to 1-1, and played the full 120 minutes. Wasn't listed as a penalty taker either.
Scored a double in a 6-0 win over Bruneian Super League Champions Kasuka in the AFC Challenge League preliminary round this morning, helping Phnom Penh through to the group stage proper. He is going to score an absolute boatload of goals this season.
The AFC Challenge League is the AFC equivalent of the Conference League in Europe ie third tier continental competition - Behind the AFC Champions League Two and the AFC Champions League Elite.
The club gets $100,000USD for qualifying through to the group stage as well.
Phnom Penh Crown have only played 2 Cambodian league matches to date, for 2 draws. Dyer yet to score.
Draw has been made for pool stages AFC Challenge League (3rd tier AFC comp). PP Crown with Dewa United Banten (Indonesia), Shan United (Myanmar) and Tainan City (Taiwan).
Some air miles and interesting travel coming up for Moses. Games in that AFC comp start 26th October.
Perhaps the Cambodian league rather than play overseas pros like your Dyers the big bucks (by local standards) should invest some cash in making sure the pitches in this league are decent. That one is a mud lark.
Though in fairness I think it's typhoon season in that part of the world.