Auckland FC - Once the Knights, Always the Knights

Footy_Fella

Ranix

Update
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133012152/billionaire-premier-league-owner-bill-foley-now-favoured-for-auckland-aleagues-club

Don't know if I like the sound of this guy's 'pyramid' but maybe I'm just being precious 

Billy Foley has been in NZ for a long time. He owns Wharekauhau country estate in the Wairarapa.
He also owns a couple of wineries in Martinborough including Te Kairanga and Martinborough Vineyard and Lighthouse Gin.
His other brands include Roaring Meg and Mt Difficulty from Central Otago. 

Footy_Fella

Ranix

Update
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133012152/billionaire-premier-league-owner-bill-foley-now-favoured-for-auckland-aleagues-club

Don't know if I like the sound of this guy's 'pyramid' but maybe I'm just being precious 

I like it, and it seems to the the 'in' thing in football these days. But it has to be done right from the top down. I get the impression that Foley would be quite hands on in that regard.
 
You could also make it a cracking play on words for the first official fan/supporters group.

'The Cherries on top'

🤣

coochiee

One snippet of new news is that Tim Brown maybe involved. Sounds like the Ali Williams/Mowbray family bid ain't going to happen.

The (bid) group is believed to include;

• Mitchell, an American technology entrepreneur and lawyer, who has settled in Auckland. Has a shareholding in the Breakers, along with other local and international investments in the tech, media and sporting space. He is listed as the sole director of Auckland Football Limited, a company that was set up in July.
• Budge, who worked for the Australian Open and WTA tours, before becoming ASB Classic tournament director in 2012. He took the event to new heights over eight iterations before stepping away in 2021. He is currently the Asia-Pacific director for Sail GP.
• Vuksich, one of the most respected figures in Auckland club football, Vuksich has been the driving force behind Central United and Auckland City for decades. A big factor behind Auckland City’s 10 appearances in the Fifa Club World Cup, which was highlighted by a third-place finish in 2014, he has unparalleled knowledge of the local landscape.

Others believed to be involved include property developer Alex Sipka, who has been Vuksich’s business partner in a proposed A-League venture in Auckland for several years, since the duo registered a company, Auckland FC in 2021.

All Birds founder and former Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand representative Tim Brown has also been linked with the project, though the nature of his involvement is unclear.

The group has already presented their proposal to New Zealand Football. They have also met with Northern Region football and club representatives.

Bloody hell- the Nix need help too Browny! 

Fudge sakes.

surprised those involved, who had been working hard to build relationships in the local football community and thought they were close to being over the line.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133012152/billionaire-premier-league-owner-bill-foley-now-favoured-for-auckland-aleagues-club

And now some guy overseas is guna pay a bit more in fees so APL opening their mouths and gobbling it up. Shows they only view expansion as a way to prop up their own BS organisation’s slush funds. That’s why the Knights were crap: an indifferent British owner with few local ties yeh?

This is a farce. 

#BoycottBlackKnight

Wait, wait- it’s okay, he went to Westport…Westpoint, has got business interests in Las Vegas, the Wairarapa and Central Otago. Nothing says Auckland football more! 

YoungHeartHM

Footy_Fella

Ranix

Update
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133012152/billionaire-premier-league-owner-bill-foley-now-favoured-for-auckland-aleagues-club

Don't know if I like the sound of this guy's 'pyramid' but maybe I'm just being precious 

I like it, and it seems to the the 'in' thing in football these days. But it has to be done right from the top down. I get the impression that Foley would be quite hands on in that regard.
 
You could also make it a cracking play on words for the first official fan/supporters group.

'The Cherries on top'

🤣

I've just spent too much time taking the piss out of Red Bull and the City Group, I'd never be able to live it down

Foley sounds like the kinda guy who'll start a new club and take them to wins very quickly, look what eh did witht eh Las Vegas Golden Knights ice hockey team, since inception in 2019 they've finished 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 4th and 1st in the pacific league winning the stanley cup in the 23 season.
If he can do that with the new auckland team then the Nix need to be concerned. It sucks for the Auckland consortium, but the any league is gonna take the bid with the most money!

If both clubs are able to stump up the cash - then lets hope it comes down to whomever has the best business model.

1 positive is - higher chance of pre season friendlies (for Auckland at least) against teams from Europe.

Hope being age 78 there is a succession plan! But yes seems the type who will plan and achieve success quickly. APL will like the money but also that his organisation has football and sports nous already. But will they work with the local Auckland football community, which needs to happen to some degree 

coochiee

Hope being age 78 there is a succession plan! But yes seems the type who will plan and achieve success quickly. APL will like the money but also that his organisation has football and sports nous already. But will they work with the local Auckland football community, which needs to happen to some degree 

Just wondering to what degree do you reckon they need to work with the local footy community and why? They will have NZF slobbering all over them

Feverish

coochiee

Hope being age 78 there is a succession plan! But yes seems the type who will plan and achieve success quickly. APL will like the money but also that his organisation has football and sports nous already. But will they work with the local Auckland football community, which needs to happen to some degree 

Just wondering to what degree do you reckon they need to work with the local footy community and why? They will have NZF slobbering all over them

Well, if they piss off the local footy community, then that halves the crowds for a start, unless they've got a boffo marketing plan

MetalLegNZ

If both clubs are able to stump up the cash - then lets hope it comes down to whomever has the best business model.

1 positive is - higher chance of pre season friendlies (for Auckland at least) against teams from Europe.

You don't  really do pre season in July for a league that starts in Oct. They are just shameless $ opportunities 

Doloras

Feverish

coochiee

Hope being age 78 there is a succession plan! But yes seems the type who will plan and achieve success quickly. APL will like the money but also that his organisation has football and sports nous already. But will they work with the local Auckland football community, which needs to happen to some degree 

Just wondering to what degree do you reckon they need to work with the local footy community and why? They will have NZF slobbering all over them

Well, if they piss off the local footy community, then that halves the crowds for a start, unless they've got a boffo marketing plan

yes but how does that tie in with working with them or not?
I think the footy community would quite happily see no change to the status quo apart from being able to turn up and support a kick ass pro team

Feverish

coochiee

Hope being age 78 there is a succession plan! But yes seems the type who will plan and achieve success quickly. APL will like the money but also that his organisation has football and sports nous already. But will they work with the local Auckland football community, which needs to happen to some degree 

Just wondering to what degree do you reckon they need to work with the local footy community and why? They will have NZF slobbering all over them

Auckland is a very spread out city. I'd like to think there would be some match day planning with local football clubs like park & ride (bus) from club carparks at say Manurewa, Papakura, Manukau, North Shore, Bay Olympic, Takapuna, West Coast Rangers etc. Even the Waikato clubs. Parents & kids. That's just one idea to work in with the local clubs, to try bolster crowds.

But there is a myriad of other issues - like in what local league does your reserve team plus other Academy teams play in etc etc. What you don't want is a perception locally of just be an arrogant A League club, not giving a fudge about the local football scene, owned by some foreign billionaire. That will go down like a cup of cold sick with many in the 09 football community.

Still I guess as Melb City has proven, if your owners are wealthy enough, and you are successful enough on the pitch you don't need a big supporter base or local buy in, to win trophies.

coochiee

Hope being age 78 there is a succession plan! But yes seems the type who will plan and achieve success quickly. APL will like the money but also that his organisation has football and sports nous already. But will they work with the local Auckland football community, which needs to happen to some degree 

From my quick google, his son seemed to be involved in his sports team business activities as well, so that may tell you something about his succession plan.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/23295872.will-bill-foleys-plans-multi-club-model-succeed/

“We’ll have a European third club that will be maybe a level below Ligue 1 and then we’ll take a look in South America and start really investigating that.

“Because that’s the feeder system. A Uruguayan club that can feed in to a Belgium club, that can feed in to a French club that can feed in to a Premier League club. And we’re controlling our destiny, with Bournemouth at the top of the pyramid.”

And a New Zealand club feeding into that Uruguayan club. Yikes.

coochiee

Feverish

coochiee

Hope being age 78 there is a succession plan! But yes seems the type who will plan and achieve success quickly. APL will like the money but also that his organisation has football and sports nous already. But will they work with the local Auckland football community, which needs to happen to some degree 

Just wondering to what degree do you reckon they need to work with the local footy community and why? They will have NZF slobbering all over them

Auckland is a very spread out city. I'd like to think there would be some match day planning with local football clubs like park & ride (bus) from club carparks at say Manurewa, Papakura, Manukau, North Shore, Bay Olympic, Takapuna, West Coast Rangers etc. Even the Waikato clubs. Parents & kids. That's just one idea to work in with the local clubs, to try bolster crowds.

But there is a myriad of other issues - like in what local league does your reserve team plus other Academy teams play in etc etc. What you don't want is a perception locally of just be an arrogant A League club, not giving a fudge about the local football scene, owned by some foreign billionaire. That will go down like a cup of cold sick with many in the 09 football community.

Still I guess as Melb City has proven, if your owners are wealthy enough, and you are successful enough on the pitch you don't need a big supporter base or local buy in, to win trophies.

I mean that’s my instinct already. 

This other bid looks a lot better deal for NZ in terms of people that’d work with NZF and the Nix and come from the local community. 

The Knights had a British owner, but when push came to shove, no one, including him gave a damn when that team folded. 

I’d prefer a team of number one importance to local owners, than of number 10 importance to a foreign owner. CC or Melbourne City? Both are better than no club, but one is a club with the ups and downs of football, not the local McDs, Starbucks cookie cutter franchise. 

As a core for the team in terms of kiwis would like to see Auckland target.

Rojas, Champness, Just

Tuiloma, Pjnaker, 

Stefan

Think based upon the level they are playing or not playing, unless they  take off this year all are getable.

4 quality imports, a couple of ausis in the mix and a couple of kiwis from the national league would be a good starting point.

Would be interesting to welcome Rojas back to Sky stadium as part of the NZ Derby...

AucklandPhoenix

As a core for the team in terms of kiwis would like to see Auckland target.

Rojas, Champness, Just

Tuiloma, Pjnaker, 

Stefan

Think based upon the level they are playing or not playing, unless they  take off this year all are getable.

4 quality imports, a couple of ausis in the mix and a couple of kiwis from the national league would be a good starting point.

Would be cool if they targeted Just but I think he should stay in Europe. Scored a great goal the other day and def has the quality to move up the tiers eventually, if he gets the chance.

Yes I think Just would be keen to perserve in Europe. Horsens may even get promoted back to Superliga this season. Pijnaker a more likely target.

There are plenty of Aucklanders overseas who could be keen to return to their home town for pro football. Tuiloma or even Mikey Boxall (unsure of his Minnesota contract length) would be good choices, as first club captain.

Fringe AWs like Woud, Logan Rogerson, Deklan Wynne, Moses Dyer, Myer Bevan & Andre de Jong - could all be worth looking at, if off contract. They'd know if they are to be any chance of WC 2026, they can't be playing in obscure leagues like J2, Finland, USL, CPL (Canada) & PSL. All still in their 20s so plenty to offer if good enough. All also pretty cheap and likely to be as good as anyone from Aus NPL or NZ National League. With a Canberra team coming in at the same time, it will be competitive re any off contract Aussie ALM players. The overlap of some of those above NH summer leagues with the A League will make it a bit tricky.

It will take a few years for a new Akld club to get their own Academy up & running, so they will likely poach a few from Weenix. Plus other youngsters like a Willem Ebbinge, Oliver Collioty (spp) etc looking for a first pro deal.

I'm sure the owners would want some star power, especially up front. So yipe Rojas a good suggestion. As others have noted likely too early for the Woodsman, as he wants to stay in the EPL as long as he can. So they will need 1-2 'glamour' visa ex Euro big league attackers I reckon, to drag in some of the big popn of Euro football snobs in the 09 to watch lowly A League football.

The right Chinese, Korean or Japanese visa player would be handy re trying to lure some of Auckland's large Asian popn to games.

Would Howeison be in their sights? Would he be interested? I wonder how many current or past ACFC/Handy Prems players like Ilic, Schrejvers, Tade etc will get a phone call at some point 

newzealandpower

Would Howeison be in their sights? Would he be interested? I wonder how many current or past ACFC/Handy Prems players like Ilic, Schrejvers, Tade etc will get a phone call at some point 

Unless Bill Foley is really splashing the cash, you'll come up against the issue that already bedevils NZ football: really good players who have no wish to go pro, they can win cup after cup with ACFC, only train a few nights a week and keep their $80k job elsewhere.

Howieson yes could be a target. It has been mentioned in the last year or so, that he has a personal issue (child getting specialist treatment in an Auckland Hospital or something similar) that means he can never leave 09 for the Nix. But surely Tade would be too old now.

With no Academy presumably initially Auckland's recruitment will have to be almost polar opposite to the current Nix. Basically the Phoenix circa mid 2007.

coochiee

Howieson yes could be a target. It has been mentioned in the last year or so, that he has a personal issue (child getting specialist treatment in an Auckland Hospital or something similar) that means he can never leave 09 for the Nix. But surely Tade would be too old now.

With no Academy presumably initially Auckland's recruitment will have to be almost polar opposite to the current Nix. Basically the Phoenix circa mid 2007.

The crappiest players in China and Brazil just felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if they should get their CVs and highlights reels ready

Tuiloma is on US$460,000 in the MLS. 

2ndBest

Tuiloma is on US$460,000 in the MLS. 

And at 28, is still in his prime. Probably a good shot in 3-5 years time 

Partner and I dined at Wharekauhau Country Estate, which is one of the many winery/hospo businesses owned by Foley.
https://www.wharekauhau.co.nz/
According to the staff there he is definately looking at the a-league as his next sporting venture, due to be in NZ in November for his annual visit - I'd guess that maybe we'll here more baout the Auckland franchise at that point. 

He's the guy that donated heavily to the Trump campaign.

Ryan

He's the guy that donated heavily to the Trump campaign.

Yes 2016 & 2020 campaigns but apparently not Trump’s 2024 one

Trump is an idiot - but if you were a billionaire as he was offering you the sort of tax cuts he brought in... throwing him a few million would be a smart business decision.

Here's hoping he (Trump) ends in prison where he belongs.

I kind of like the Foley idea. He has consistently put investment money into his NZ business ventures. In Martinborough he has spent millions on a flash new restaurant hospitality centre at Te Kairanga winery, which he owns along with Martinborough Vineyard. Friends in the wine business have told me he is a good owner. Doesn’t seem like he is some unknown foreigner who is going to speculate on a vanity football project in Auckland then disappear. Plus he is already involved internationally in other football projects.

austin111

I kind of like the Foley idea. He has consistently put investment money into his NZ business ventures. In Martinborough he has spent millions on a flash new restaurant hospitality centre at Te Kairanga winery, which he owns along with Martinborough Vineyard. Friends in the wine business have told me he is a good owner. Doesn’t seem like he is some unknown foreigner who is going to speculate on a vanity football project in Auckland then disappear. Plus he is already involved internationally in other football projects.

I don't doubt his business acumen, but a football club should be more than just a business. I just feel like Aucklanders deserve better than being part of some multi-club structure.

Footy_Fella

austin111

I kind of like the Foley idea. He has consistently put investment money into his NZ business ventures. In Martinborough he has spent millions on a flash new restaurant hospitality centre at Te Kairanga winery, which he owns along with Martinborough Vineyard. Friends in the wine business have told me he is a good owner. Doesn’t seem like he is some unknown foreigner who is going to speculate on a vanity football project in Auckland then disappear. Plus he is already involved internationally in other football projects.

I don't doubt his business acumen, but a football club should be more than just a business. I just feel like Aucklanders deserve better than being part of some multi-club structure.

I think the main thing is that the team is successful relatively quickly. One really good way to ruin a potential supporter base is to be dogshark out the gate. The money definitely helps with this, so hopefully the team is well supported. 

If the team is well supported then it won't really matter who it is owned by. There will always be interest in a popular team and it will outlast Foley and any multi-club structure it is a part of initially 

Footy_Fella

austin111

I kind of like the Foley idea. He has consistently put investment money into his NZ business ventures. In Martinborough he has spent millions on a flash new restaurant hospitality centre at Te Kairanga winery, which he owns along with Martinborough Vineyard. Friends in the wine business have told me he is a good owner. Doesn’t seem like he is some unknown foreigner who is going to speculate on a vanity football project in Auckland then disappear. Plus he is already involved internationally in other football projects.

I don't doubt his business acumen, but a football club should be more than just a business. I just feel like Aucklanders deserve better than being part of some multi-club structure.

And yet being part of a successful businessman's empire offers so much security and allows the footballing minds at the club to do what's needed. Foley builds successful businesses and franchises. Look at what he did with the Las Vegas NHL franchise. Started from scratch, said they'd win the league within 6 years and they did it in 4. He is driven to be successful and being part of that can only be a good thing. Especially when comparing it to a Kiwi group of businessmen who are comparitively poor to Foley and more likely to struggle financially to fund the franchise well.

I wish the Welnix crew had $1.6b USD to play with and the business accumen that Foley has.

coochiee

Ryan

He's the guy that donated heavily to the Trump campaign.

Yes 2016 & 2020 campaigns but apparently not Trump’s 2024 one

So that would make him a Liz Cheney type, a Right-wing conservative who draws the line at supporting a guy who started a riot to try to overthrow the Constitution. Makes him a better bet than New Zealand citizen Peter Thiel, if he sticks to it.

Doloras

coochiee

Ryan

He's the guy that donated heavily to the Trump campaign.

Yes 2016 & 2020 campaigns but apparently not Trump’s 2024 one

So that would make him a Liz Cheney type, a Right-wing conservative who draws the line at supporting a guy who started a riot to try to overthrow the Constitution. Makes him a better bet than New Zealand citizen Peter Thiel, if he sticks to it.

Genuinely I would say Foley is probably in the better half of billionaires. I don't care what anyone says, if you have made that much money it generally involves being extremely cutthroat in some of your decisions. So all billionaires are likely morally corrupt in some way or another but just to varying degrees

Doloras

coochiee

Ryan

He's the guy that donated heavily to the Trump campaign.

Yes 2016 & 2020 campaigns but apparently not Trump’s 2024 one

So that would make him a Liz Cheney type, a Right-wing conservative who draws the line at supporting a guy who started a riot to try to overthrow the Constitution. Makes him a better bet than New Zealand citizen Peter Thiel, if he sticks to it.

Doloras - perhaps you can help us out with your NBR subscription to read more. Cheek tongue in.

https://www.nbr.co.nz/investment/foley-wines-shell/
Bill Foley talks business and football while in NZ.

Billionaire Bill Foley is the latest high-profile businessman to confirm he won’t be supporting Donald Trump for the 2024 US election.  

I don’t understand people’s aversion to the linkages between clubs and so called franchise model.

If there is a sister club in Belgium that the nix is a feeder to - fantastic. 

If that club is a feeder to a higher league even better.

It should only assist young kiwis in making it to Europe.

The Auckland club may not receive a hefty transfer fee, but who cares if the money is being fronted by a US billionaire 

I get someone being pissed off at this model if they don’t have it but it’s good for our football.

Not often I agree with AP, but do in this instance. Ask Melb City supporters if they are happier being part of the City Group (and winning stuff plus lots of players signing for Euro clubs), as opposed to before, as the struggling Melb Heart.

coochiee

Not often I agree with AP, but do in this instance. Ask Melb City supporters if they are happier being part of the City Group (and winning stuff plus lots of players signing for Euro clubs), as opposed to before, as the struggling Melb Heart.

There is a difference here tho, a football group isn't taking over your existing club. They will be here from day 1, so you know what you are signing up too.