Chief Soccer Coach May Be Dismissed

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31776, 5 September 1968, Page 19

Chief Soccer Coach May Be Dismissed

(By Our Soccer Reporter) The protracted dispute between national soccer officials and the national coach (Mr J. Schwanner) is coming to a head. Present indications are that Mr Schwanner’s contract, which expires next month, will not be renewed.

The dispute, which reached a climax during the national training course in Huntly at Easter and then seemed to be dying down, has flared up again over statements made bv Mr Schwanner in Christchurch at the week-end.

Mr Schwanner’s enthusiasm over the play of the Rangers and Canterbury wing-half, V. Pollard, in the southern league match against Christchurch City, and his wish for Pollard to be included in the national squad, has been interpreted as “interference in national selection policy.” Mr Schwanner told Pollard, who was outstanding in the match against City: “I want you in the national team.” Expanding his remarks afterwards, the national coach said: “Pollard is a natural centre-forward and the greatest in New Zealand. He should play against, Fiji on September 17.” WARNED BY N.Z.F.A. However, a month ago, Mr Schwanner was told by the New Zealand Football Association not to make state-

meats on selectoin policy to the press—one of several warnings issued to him.

The convener of the national selection panel, Mr J. G. Shankie, was reported in a Wellington newspaper this week as saying: “We have no intention of adding Pollard to our World Cup squad. The first I heard of it was in the press.

“I will definitely be seeing Mr Schwanner next week-end to discuss the matter with him,” he added. Mr Shankie’s intervention in the matter is not unexpected. He and Mr Schwanner have been at loggerheads since the Huntly course when they could not agree on who had the right to set the policy to be undertaken during the course. POWERS DISPUTED Mr Shankie maintained that the national selectors should adopt a schedule to be followed by the national coach: Mr Schwanner insisted that the national coach should be in charge of all aspects of coaching the national team. The matter was unresolved then, and has not been settled since, although there has been considerable pressure that Mr Schwanner should be given sole charge of the national team—as selector and coach —for a stipulated period and his contract afterwards reviewed. The Nelson Football Association, whose president, Mr S. J. Guppy, is also president of the N.Z.F.A., has proposed this course of action, unanimously, to the national association. Nelson stipulated that Mr Schwanner should be given full control of the New Zealand team for a period of three years. However, certain members of the N.Z.F.A. executive are strongly opposed to Mr Schwanner having sole charge of the national team, either because they do not support oneman control or because they are not satisfied Mr Schwanner is the right man for the job. There are unconfirmed reports national administrators have replied, “No com-

ment,” when asked—that Mr Schwanner will be dismissed as national coach when his contract expires but would be reappointed Auckland regional coach. When a national squad is finally brought together, one of the country’s regional coaches would be appointed to take control of the team, under the direction of the N.Z.F.A. and the selection panel.

There would be no national coach in name. CLASH OF POLICIES

Mr Schwanner’s enthusiasm over the play of Pollard shared ,by everyone who saw his performance against City last Saturday—and his natural desire to have Pollard in the national team, are being used by his detractors out of all context. The real issue, however, is whether New Zealand soccer should continue as at present with a national selection panel responsible for naming the squad and a coach who works under its direction, or one man given sole charge of selection and coaching. In modern soccer the selection panel-coach system has disappeared. It seems that the N.Z.F.A is trying to hold on to a system that has been tried and has failed here, as it has failed elsewhere.

The move made by the Nelson F.A. deserves the fullest support of every association. It is ironic that it should come from a minor association, but is in tune with the progressive-minded men in control of Nelson soccer.