I think we all agree. The Phoenix are not responsible for all
football in NZ - development - pathways and all the rest.
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No they are not, but the fact that they are only a sub licencee from NZF then clearly that IS part of the job description, especially when the one criticism of the Knights was the complete lack of kiwis. e.g the U20 players will always be New Zealanders. Clearly the Phoenix are intended as a pathway for quality kiwis, that links the objectives of the two organisations.
[QUOTE=City Fan]What has happened though is both the board of NZF and the executive clearly have believed that the future of the two were inextracably linked.
The out come is neglect of the domestic game
No they are not, but the fact that they are only a sub licencee from NZF then clearly that IS part of the job description, especially when the one criticism of the Knights was the complete lack of kiwis. e.g the U20 players will always be New Zealanders. Clearly the Phoenix are intended as a pathway for quality kiwis, that links the objectives of the two organisations.
[QUOTE=City Fan]What has happened though is both the board of NZF and the executive clearly have believed that the future of the two were inextracably linked.
The out come is neglect of the domestic game
I still fail to see how the recent financial mismanagement has got ANYTHING to do with the introduction of the Phoenix. How can you neglect the domestic game in 10 months? That "neglect" must have started well before the Phoenix, things don't just happen overnight. But to be honest, it's not the domestic games lack of focus, but probably the focus on domestic all white's games that have no commercial appeal that has been the problem. I cannot accept an argument that the Phenix have anything to do with these recent woes (other than Mr Seatter making the ill fated decision to bring the AWs match to Wellington).james dean2008-01-23 16:07:50