Chch soccer clubs sharply reject proposals

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 36

Chch soccer clubs sharply reject proposals

By

DAVID LEGGAT

A major change proposed for the Rothmans Soccer League format next season received a sharp rebuttal yesterday from Christchurch’s two representatives in the league. Officials of .Trans Tours United and Rangers met the chairman of the New Zealand Football Association’s promotions and sponsorship committee, Mr Charlie Dempsey, in Christchurch yesterday and completely rejected Mr Dempsey’s suggestion of a two-month break in the league during April and May.

The break has been proposed while the New Zealand team is taking part' in its World Cup elimination matches, which begin on April 26. Indeed, Mr Dempsey is unlikely to find many favourable comments for the scheme, which would upset pre-season training for clubs, would also provide clashes with summer sports and would probably cause problems late in the season with league and Cup dates overlapping. In addition, and this is perhaps the biggest danger about the proposal, it will be very difficult to revive

interest in the league after a two-month layoff. However, the clubs were also asked to consider an alternative plan, which seems to be totally illogical. The suggestion was that the league programme be played as normal for the first 11 rounds, while the players in the national team are absent.

Then, when those players return, in time for round 12, all teams will begin again with no points, and nothing to show for their efforts during the first half of the competition. Prize money would be made available to the top teams in the

second half of the season. There would be no relocation from the league for that one season, therefore killing off the aspirations of many regional league clubs which would otherwise be aiming for a place in the national league. •The worst aspect of this scheme is the distinct lack of incentive it would provide for players and clubs in the first half of the competition. Clubs would effectively be paying out a lot of money to play 11 “friendly” matches. United’s chairman, Mr Frank Beedies, said he personally did not favour

either proposition. Of the main proposal, Mr Beedies said that to stop for two months in the inoddle of the season would be a “diabolical” decision. “It would mean the whole of New Zealand soccer would go to sleep for two months. A disruption like that would certainly do damage to the league,” he said. The president of the Rangers club, Mr Colin Boatwood, was not present at the meeting but he did not feel a break during the seasdn would serve any useful purpose. He pointed out that if Rangers had no players in

the national squad then 16 players would be playing no soccer in the heart of the season for two months. “There is no sense in asking 16 players to stand down for a couple of months in the middle of the season,” he said. “There is no way I am going to ask everyone; not just the players, after a two-month break to come back and start all over again.” Mr Beedies did offer a counter-suggestion which seems a very worthwhile one. He suggested that the New Zealand squad make a tour of New Zealand

during its preparation for the World Cup matches. R could play composite sides from the Otago, Canterbury, central and northern regions on four successive week-ends.

This would mean national league teams would miss only one week-end, while the New Zealand team played in their region, and could then resume the competition. However, Mr Beedies emphasised that this was a personal opinion but one he would suggest to the United board at its meeting next week.