Auckland FC - Once the Knights, Always the Knights

Melbourne City Supporters? 

In a city with two derbies and that’s many times larger than ours, they average an attendance just over a thousand more than us. 

If that’s good for the league where there are no incentives to improve your club for the local supporters or players, then sign em all up! 

Or where your success is so out of step with the league that it means nothing to your supporters. 

If we win the league, we’re going have a season of very happy fans all the way and we’ll get a lot of casuals make time to get down to the park. 

My point being, and we’ve seen it as a risk at the Nix, a team that’s a side project or not so important for the owners and players definitely can’t hope to gain that from the fans. 

I feel that at the Nix we had a generation off the back of the WC and no football who were awesome. 

Now I worry we get players who pick up checks, but don’t look like Daniel or Roy or Bonevacia when they succeed or fail. One year contracts before going to City etc. 

Tbf the Nix owners have been immense in my book. 

It’s hard to feel that Phoenix till I die energy on and off the park. It requires a lot of buy in. 

I got good vibes off the press for the first group. I’m worried about this new big dick energy bid. They seem much better than Clive Palmer, but you don’t want your owners in the press more than your players. And I wasn’t happy with how the APL treated the previous bid. Well, guess we’ll find out. Seems like a fait accompli. 

Awww man, the really horrible thing about Clive Palmer is not just how he mismanaged GCU, not just because of his reactionary political project, but how he parlayed his working relationship with Shane Smeltz to recruit Smeltzy into his reactionary political project. 

Down the ownership list now at Option 3 it seems, the Mowbray/Ali Williams team.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/innovation/132971415/anna-mowbray-people-dont-want-to-know-about-my-money

Bill Foley confirmed as preferred bidder.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133097794/american-billionaire-bill-foley-confirmed-as-preferred-bidder-for-auckland-aleagues-club

YouCanCallMeAl

Bill Foley confirmed as preferred bidder.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133097794/american-billionaire-bill-foley-confirmed-as-preferred-bidder-for-auckland-aleagues-club

I know it's a Nix forum, but that's a massive move for football in this country.

And now I know who my second team will be in the A-Leagues 😉 (Sorry Mariners!)

Also no more Nix 'home' games in Auckland! 🤲🥳

YoungHeartHM

Also no more Nix 'home' games in Auckland! 🤲🥳

More for Palmy!! (Probably ChCh tbh)

Let's hope we can keep that unbeaten in Auckland streak going heading into next season.

RR

YoungHeartHM

Also no more Nix 'home' games in Auckland! 🤲🥳

More for Palmy!! (Probably ChCh tbh)

Let's hope we can keep that unbeaten in Auckland streak going heading into next season.

I would've said more to Hamilton, but this new Auckland outfit will probably want to lay claim to that golden triangle of Auckland/Hamilton/Tauranga - Both commercially and for the talent pool too.

I wouldn't mind if they decided to come back up to New Plymouth when we get our new $70 million dollar stand rebuilt (yes one stand!) 

YoungHeartHM

YouCanCallMeAl

Bill Foley confirmed as preferred bidder.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/133097794/american-billionaire-bill-foley-confirmed-as-preferred-bidder-for-auckland-aleagues-club

I know it's a Nix forum, but that's a massive move for football in this country.

And now I know who my second team will be in the A-Leagues 😉 (Sorry Mariners!)

Anyone playing Auckland for me.

Big slap in the face to the potential local investors. We obviously couldn't complain if Foley was the only option but there seemed to be enough interest locally.

If Terry was still around, I’m sure he would go to the bidders who missed out and say: “have I got a deal for you”

Footy_Fella

Big slap in the face to the potential local investors. We obviously couldn't complain if Foley was the only option but there seemed to be enough interest locally.

Must be a good reason they were over looked. Pretty PO if im honest to see Tim Brown involved would much prefer to see him  offer help to us.

Footy_Fella

Big slap in the face to the potential local investors. We obviously couldn't complain if Foley was the only option but there seemed to be enough interest locally.

 Newshub reported on the news tonight that not only did the Mitchell bid have the support of Karl Budge, Tim Brown, Ryan Nelsen, Winston Reid and Ali Riley, but also were set to holistically supported by AC Milan. They mentioned significant funding, sponsorship, player pathways, academies; a whole lot. That would also be some coup and also shows the interest in Auckland is very much there.

ballane

Footy_Fella

Big slap in the face to the potential local investors. We obviously couldn't complain if Foley was the only option but there seemed to be enough interest locally.

Must be a good reason they were over looked. Pretty PO if im honest to see Tim Brown involved would much prefer to see him  offer help to us.

Maybe Welnix could now approach Marc Mitchell & Tim Brown, and somehow get them involved with the club. 'Share the load'. I note All Birds sole NZ retail shop is in the 09.

carlind

Footy_Fella

Big slap in the face to the potential local investors. We obviously couldn't complain if Foley was the only option but there seemed to be enough interest locally.

 Newshub reported on the news tonight that not only did the Mitchell bid have the support of Karl Budge, Tim Brown, Ryan Nelsen, Winston Reid and Ali Riley, but also were set to holistically supported by AC Milan. They mentioned significant funding, sponsorship, player pathways, academies; a whole lot. That would also be some coup and also shows the interest in Auckland is very much there.

Agree you really have to hope they get the support from people that some claim is there. Will be interesting to see how it comes together. Foley has truckloads of cash and has invested heavily in NZ. My son works for a company brought out by him and tells a couple of interesting stories about a couple of his acquisitions.

ballane

carlind

Footy_Fella

Big slap in the face to the potential local investors. We obviously couldn't complain if Foley was the only option but there seemed to be enough interest locally.

 Newshub reported on the news tonight that not only did the Mitchell bid have the support of Karl Budge, Tim Brown, Ryan Nelsen, Winston Reid and Ali Riley, but also were set to holistically supported by AC Milan. They mentioned significant funding, sponsorship, player pathways, academies; a whole lot. That would also be some coup and also shows the interest in Auckland is very much there.

Agree you really have to hope they get the support from people that some claim is there. Will be interesting to see how it comes together. Foley has truckloads of cash and has invested heavily in NZ. My son works for a company brought out by him and tells a couple of interesting stories about a couple of his acquisitions.

I don’t think they should come in at the last minute and expect to be able to get a free transfer of the good will that the other bid has created. 

Still Spoonley is putting in his application for CEO is it? 

Guess we’ll see the shape of things soon, what Domey and WelNix have to say and the football side of things.  

The Nix need these guys from time to time too. Get Siggie and Smeltzy or Dura and Roy to hype the start of a season…If All White captains and vice captains and AC Milan are ready to pump NZ football, get them in to push memberships to footy fans preseason. 

I remember flying into Wellington for a game around New Years and it was awesome to see Paul Ifill and his family at the after game. 

Last season might not have lived up to expectations, but we have to keep reminding fans and everyone that the Nix are bigger than one season, bigger than one generation. 

I have a funny feeling they're going to be called the Auckland Knights or some variation thereof, what with the owner owning 3 teams called the Knights already (Vegas Golden Knights, Henderson Silver Knights, and Vegas Knight Hawks) and his company being Black Knight. Not sure how it would go down. 

I reckon Dome et al must be sharkting themselves re the commercial aspect of this, they've now got competition in the NZ corporate market, which is almost entirely in AKL, where the new team is based.

Hopefully just a holding company name, if they want to be taken seriously, they need to have a serious name.

Nelfoos

I have a funny feeling they're going to be called the Auckland Knights or some variation thereof, what with the owner owning 3 teams called the Knights already (Vegas Golden Knights, Henderson Silver Knights, and Vegas Knight Hawks) and his company being Black Knight. Not sure how it would go down. 

Black Knights is Foley’s preferred name he said.

Not possible to resurrect the Knights.  Terry took those ashes and turned them into the Phoenix.

Dougie Rydal

I reckon Dome et al must be sharkting themselves re the commercial aspect of this, they've now got competition in the NZ corporate market, which is almost entirely in AKL, where the new team is based.

For sure. Dome has already raised this as an issue, as well as the competition for limited pool of quality NZ players.

And now with billionaire Foley being APL's preferred owner for Auckland, an increasing concern for the Nix could be that Auckland have quick on field success - making Nix early on the little brother. Natural that quality players & sponsors will be more attracted to the bigger, perhaps more glamorous club, if it pans the new 09 franchise quickly wins a tropy or two.

But there will also be positives, like at last a proper rival, 2 or 3 huge derby games, and just increased A League media coverage in NZ overall.

I think this franchise can only benefit the NIX - more media is better for marketability.

And it will mean more time and effort will go into the youth set ups to make sure they best players are being found and not lost to the Auckland side, so I'd expect to see better networks and scouting to come out of this as well.

NIX didn't really have to work the last few years to find and attract youth - people would try to get to them. Little different now.

Similarly I would expect this to benefit aspiring South Island footballers who in the past have often felt overlooked. If the Auckland team sews up the youth market north of Waikato that significantly reduces wellingtons options so they may look at Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin options more closely than in the past.

I think it was Elena on the latest pod, who talked about what now with Ole. If Ole's relationship with Wests is a bit fractured, could they look to the new Auckland A League club. Could they even relocate to Auckland? 

They have all the IP, and coaching staff of a quality functioning Academy. But with Weenix now the dominant youth setup below the Bombays, a new very well financed Academy likely to start up in Auckland, the Academy at Christchurch United getting bigger - Ole risk becoming less attractive for promising young Kiwis with no immediate pathway to pro football.

loyalgunner

Similarly I would expect this to benefit aspiring South Island footballers who in the past have often felt overlooked. If the Auckland team sews up the youth market north of Waikato that significantly reduces wellingtons options so they may look at Nelson, Christchurch and Dunedin options more closely than in the past.

I can see the Nix as a club looking to strengthen ties to the South Island at all levels. The ChCh United Academy is producing some quality youngsters now (3-4 in the wider NZ U17s squad??), and have ex Nixer, Ifill there as coach. 

Plus could be some future commercial sponsor opportunities down there, especially if Nix did take 1-2 'home' games to the new ChCh CBD stadium. You also currently have a heavy Cantab influence in the Nix ALW team especially. A future look South not North maybe.

Perfect for Doloras. Foley, and MAGA - Make Auckland Great Again!! As for Soros, he pays everyone to argue with each other. plays all sides. But thats for another thread.

For names: Auckland Academicals? Auckland Albion? Auckland Tuatara? ..... Or since they have tried Knights and Kingz, How about Rooks or Bishops? Pawns might get taken the wrong way

What about Jugadores Asociación de Fútbol Auckland aka the JAFAs.

Juggernaut Auckland Foley Artists 

You missed the most powerful piece, LG!

It’d honestly be astonishing if APL is suggesting a British owner of an Auckland Knights variant club… rather testing if destiny has a sense of humour!

The Auckland club ownership will be of a level that we have never seen in NZ before. The owner is no slug in business and professional sport ownership. You can forget about Danny Hay being coach, he is simply not good enough for the owner and we can expect some serious money being spent on this club ( within AL limits of course).

Shark club, no history. Have they ever beaten boca? I think not.

Had a go at putting together a hypothetical men’s squad for fun.

Lewis is ambitious considering he’s contracted until 2025 and moved to Sydney partly for Narelle’s job.

If you can’t get him then you either bet on Howieson being good enough or swap the LB import for a CM (or grab an Aussie like Daniel De Silva).

IMG_5704.jpeg 442.46 KB

RB Wynne is the younger Ronan. AM Bayliss is Lachie from the Jets.

Couldn’t decide on reserve CBs but you’ve got the likes of Stanger, Kyle Adams, Aaryan Raj, Dino Botica, Brotherton, Mitchell and Schrijvers or a million Aussies.

I’d captain Rojas as a bit of a statement piece.

Any local players that you guys reckon should be in with a chance to make the squad?

Would love to see Rojas at the Black Knights if he doesn't return to the Nix. But you'd want that team to score a lot of goals if Pijnaker, Tuiloma and Elliot are 3 of your back 4. Not great defenders 

Footy_Fella

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/bill-foley-american-billionaire-and-afc-bournemouth-owner-is-the-preferred-bidder-for-an-auckland-a-league-expansion/

Very promising/heartening interview, from the perspective of someone wanting to see football thrive in NZ. Worrying for the Nix fan. Can see the Nix getting crushed commercially and competitively by their local rivals if they can't somehow secure new investment, seems the current owners are going to run the club on the smell of an oily rag from now on (This is not criticism by the way, they've spent/lost enough on the Nix by now that to me they should always be immune from harsh criticism). 

As much as I'd prefer him in Wellington, Chris Wood would make for a pretty cool first signing/captain announcement