This might require support from the club, but would be totally up to the discretion of the Internal Affairs. Irene Van Dyke rule might be applicable, if Bazeley considered Ball immediately "recruitable" for All Whites, perhaps. Remember that Peter Thiel was granted NZ citizenship before living here, so there are legal rules for exceptions; but someone "significant" would need to support Ball's application in order for the exception to be considered.
I have a feeling someone else has had an exception before. Might have been Dura or Krishna who were out of the country for long periods, but because it was due to work requirements, they were given an exception.
Probably can't find it - but if it could be gound, I think Ball would have a lot of secondary assists - being the player who teed up the guy that sets up the goal.
If his demands are reasonable I'd still take him - a good role model for our younger players.
Uffie’s first 3 seasons he was consistently around 10 goal contributions a season. Roughly at one every 200 minutes. There’s also 3 assists in the FFA cup in his first two seasons.
Uffie’s last season was confused on attack- we had too many players who couldn’t quite play together. That saw only 4 goal contributions at one every 425 minutes.
So far this season he’s had fewer minutes and has 3 goal contributions again at around 430 minutes each.
I’m not sure when he is eligible as a local, but I think he’s 34 now. I think it’d only be year by year for any further contracts surely.
He’s a very adaptable player and has great feet and great vision. I guess he’d be looking to understudy Kraev and/or Old depending on if they stay.
His rapidly dwindling numbers might show he is a bit deeper last couple of seasons. Or they might show he is losing sharpness. No worse than Kosta was last year, but it doesn't tell me he should be playing as much as he does; unless he's replacing Rufer/Pennington/Al-Taay/Salas if he is sitting that deep. Screenshot 2024-04-04 at 10.20.41 PM.png249.59 KB
He's never been a player who scores a tonne of goals. Over 5 years at Fleetwood Town he scored 41 goals at 1 every 4(ish) games. It seems to have been that way his whole career. Solid but nothing flashy. For us since 2019 he's score 15 in 100 games, 1 in every 6(ish) almost 7 games. But during that time he was used as a wide forward (during the Uffie years) or as a deeper lying forward, more a disruptor in defence and creater in attack. He's only played as the point man a couple of times this season. But, he does so much work in the buildup to all of our goals,either getting the assist or making the pass before the assist. I pick him as an AM now more than a striker, he has the skills, the game nouse to play the role for us for a year or two more.
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) April 4, 2024
Nice lil interview with him can tell he cares about the club a lot and no one can deny the effort hes put in. Hopefully he can top off his time here with the title!
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) April 4, 2024
Nice lil interview with him can tell he cares about the club a lot and no one can deny the effort hes put in. Hopefully he can top off his time here with the title!
The more I hear from this guy the more my man-crush grows! Love his attitude to the club and his passion for just being involved and a part of the bigger picture! Seems the clubs approach has been a winner for the Ball family too which is positive news.
Only 34, so he's got a couple of yearas in his legs yet. Well on the pathway with his coaching academy within the Nix setup, so he could be a cheaper option for a league 2 team.
The nix won’t use 5 imports next season so subject is not relevant anymore
Speculation on the Nix Pod he will be a naturalised NZer in 2025, so would a bit odd to leave now when so close to having a NZ passport, plus he has his Academy in Welly.
Unless it's family reasons to return to the UK, you'd think it would have to be a very generous offer from the Gills.
Can't see it happening, personally. Mid-table League 2? Been there, done that. Unless he's decided he wants to return home or he's been told he's not in Chiefy's plans for next year (unlikely), reckon he's staying.
The nix won’t use 5 imports next season so subject is not relevant anymore
Speculation on the Nix Pod he will be a naturalised NZer in 2025, so would a bit odd to leave now when so close to having a NZ passport, plus he has his Academy in Welly.
Unless it's family reasons to return to the UK, you'd think it would have to be a very generous offer from the Gills.
It doesn't say Ball is interested back, only that Gillingham are interested in him. Every chance he'd turn them down
It looks like its @clewisinvestor - obviously have missed something there but im sure if you figured out what it was you'd have an answer. Maybe a dig at clayton though.
Yeah I saw it. My only other thought/suggestion is maybe he has seen stuff online (some of the negative comments from fans) but that was just a thought. No idea
I recall a lot of earlier comments that Ball and his family enjoy life in New Zealand and that he would be looking for coaching work here before considering returning to UK. That was a while ago but suspect this is linked to the length of his contract extension (to allow him to be naturalised in NZ).
He definitely loves it here. Third hand info, but a mates dad chat fairly regularly to him and has no intentions on leaving. Family very much settled, but I guess anything can change