History for coochiee

AV saves Auckland FC from becoming the Black Knights, by informing them's 2nd Best's completed survey should not be taken seriously.

And sounds like the week leading up to Nix's game against SFC in Auckland, will be interesting!  Both NZ clubs competing for media space, some banter about next season no doubt. Love it!

Oh and Bazeley opens the door for Corica to speak with Wood, Boxy, Tuiloma about comingt onboard for future ALM seasons two & three. Wood I reckon a strong option for season 2016/17, after 2016 WC.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350183319/auckland-leagues-club-unveil-name-colours-kit-next-month

Corica and McFlynn have been in Auckland for the first time since their appointments last December over the past 10 days, meeting with local clubs, NZ Football and other interested parties, as well as attending the Halberg Awards.

They were joined by the third member of the club’s fledgling football department, former Socceroos and Sydney FC analyst Doug Kors, who has come on board as head of recruitment.

The trio have been busy in that regard, already signing seven players for their first campaign and aiming to have around 15 in place by mid-March. Corica is also starting to put together his backroom staff, with his team’s first pre-season set to begin on July 1.

None of Becker, Corica and McFlynn were willing to divulge any names, noting that some of the signings were still contracted to other clubs, though McFlynn did confirm the seven signings boasted “a sprinkling” of All Whites caps.

Sources outside the club identified a list of five players who have either been signed or are priority targets: Goalkeeper Michael Woud, defender Francis de Vries and midfielder Cam Howieson, who have all played for the All Whites, and midfielder Luis Toomey and forward Jesse Randall, two under-23 internationals with Paris Olympics hopes.

Corica played alongside All Whites coach Darren Bazeley at Walsall in England’s lower leagues right before they both came down under for the first season of A-League Men in 2005 - Corica with Sydney and Bazeley with the New Zealand Knights.

He said visiting Abu Dhabi to watch the All Whites play Egypt and either Croatia or Tunisia would provide an excellent opportunity to learn more about about the state of New Zealand men’s football.

In mid-January, the club sought feedback on the potential name Auckland Black Knights in a survey that was shared in several places, including a Facebook group set up by an eager fan looking to build support for the new teams.

While responses to the survey itself, including trolling ones from fans of New Zealand’s sole existing professional football club, the Wellington Phoenix, were private, the comments in the Facebook group were largely negative, noting the connection the “Knights“ has with the failed former A-Leagues club and that it had no link to Auckland.

The club’s headcount currently sits at five, with Becker, Corica, McFlynn and Kors joined by chief commercial officer Mike Higgins, best known in football circles for being involved in the One Shot for Glory campaign around the All Whites’ World Cup qualification push in 2010.

Becker said he had come away from initial meetings with local clubs enthused about the extent to which the city might get behind its new football teams, with Auckland’s entry into A-League Women scheduled for 2025.

“Someone like (former All White) Fred de Jong at Ellerslie is already talking about how they’ll get everyone to come to their clubrooms before games, have a beer or two, then travel on a bus together to Mt Smart.