Allegations of soccer incompetence

Press, 3 September 1980, Page 38

Allegations of soccer incompetence

. By DAVID LEGGAT Allegations amounting to incompetence have been levelled at the New Zealand Football Association by one of its affiliated bodies, the Nelson Football Association.

In an open letter to other associations, the N.F.A. has listed 11 points which, it believes, need urgent clarification from the N.Z.F;A.

These range from the lack of firm budgets of proposed tours being shown to the N.Z.F.A. council; to the organisation of an overseas tour for the national team without either council or affiliated associations’ approval, and to the failure of the N.Z.F.A. to pay off the amount owing from the Fijian tour earlier in the vear -before embarking on another overseas venture.

Nelson’s claims, which have gained some, support from the Canterbury Football Association,, seem to stem not so much from what has been done but by the way in which it has been done. It believes the N.Z.F.A. has failed to keep, its affiliated associations and council members in touch with what is happening. The Nelson letter is likely to produce a lively debate at the N.Z.F.A. council meeting in Wellington on Friday. At-That meeting, Nelson will seek some answers to the' questions it has posed. Among the other points raised by the Nelson letter ■are: ■ "

Whether the joint tours agreement, between the Auckland Football Association and the N.Z.F.A. which provides for these bodies sharing the profits, or the losses of tours, is in writing; '■ An assertion, linked with that alliance between, the A.F.A. and the N.Z.F.A., that ' the Auckland association is not contributing, its share towards the fund;

A question of where the present deficit of $17,000 in

the tours fund is to come from; Why the N.Z.F.A. makes loose arrangements for overseas matches, a sharp contrast with visiting teams which insist on a set guarantee; and Who approved' the appointment of Mr Kevin Fallon as’ the New Zealand team’s assistant coach recently.. /' ./ ’ , ' ' The promotions and sponsorship committee, headed by Mr Charlie Dempsey, comes under, heavy fire from Nelson, which; justifiably, claims his sub-committee has no right to say the N.Z.F.A. can absorb a loss of $lO,OOO on the nowcancelled tour of Canada, Central and South America.

Mr Dempsey has been quoted as saying he would have accepted that loss as part of the investment in the national squad. Whether he has the authority to accept that loss' on behalf of all associations affiliated to the N.Z.F.A., who would have to make up part of. that loss through increased affiliation fees, is open to question. . . ; , Mr Dempsey’s subcommittee is also criticised for spending money “left, right and centre.” The Nelson association contends the full N.Z.F.A. council has been left out of important discussions on the planning of overseas tours arid has been left in the dark on matters it should be closely .involved in..

The allegation concerning Mr Fallon, the player-coach of the remarkably successful Gisborne' City side this season, is an interesting one. If the N.Z.F.A. council did not appoint him, who did? The accepted way to run a large organisation is to have an executive group to make decisions on behalf of the remainder of that body. Obviously, in Nelson’s view, this is not happening in New Zealand soccer.