COLLABORATION AGREED AS THE BEST WAY FORWARD

January 31, 2008

AUCKLAND - New Zealand Football and its seven regional federations have agreed to work closely to ensure the long-term strategic and financial sustainability of the sport.

Auckland Football Federation chairman Mark Aspden has been co-opted onto the NZ Football board in the first step of the process following a meeting between the two parties in Auckland today.

The meeting follows revelations that NZ Football faced an $834,000 loss for the 2007 financial year. However, that figure is expected to improve by approximately $250,000, subject to audit.

A four person �Consultative Committee� � with two members from the NZ Football board and two representatives from the federations � will also be established.

The new committee will immediately embark on a review of the current Strategic Plan which will be reported to NZ Football�s Annual Congress in June. The focus will be to achieve sustainable long-term funding of the game.

The NZ Football board and federations agreed that close collaboration was necessary to co-ordinate a long-term approach to financial and strategic issues.

In the immediate future, the Federations endorse the board�s response to the current situation, and accept that real progress has been made since the last meeting.

The Federations recognise the work of the current board and management over the last few weeks, their determination to find a way through the current difficulties and have pledged to continue to help find solutions.

However, it was agreed the imposition of a proposed nationwide $10 levy in 2008 was �undesirable�.

The current seven-member NZ Football board includes only two members � Frank Van Hattum and Phil Johnson � will definitely continue beyond June�s congress.

Two recently co-opted board members � Bill Moran (Wellington) and Iain Harvey (Christchurch) � are now involved in board activities along with Aspden who has been appointed in an interim role through to congress. The present board otherwise remain in place.

I can't even try to follow it, understand it I'm afraid. We have a problem. We don't have a problem. We are 2 million in debt. We are 800,000 in debt. We are 450,000 in debt. There is a financial disaster. No there isn't. People should resign?? Who knows. Buggered if I do.