Australians keen to secure services of Wooddin, Turner

Press, 28 April 1981, Page 32

Australians keen to secure services of Wooddin, Turner

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Australian chequebooks have been opened in pursuit of New Zealand’s two most outstanding players in its World Cup soccer match in Auckland last week-end, but neither player is likely to leave his present club until at least next year.

The player of the match Dunedin City’s Steve Wooddin, is the target of at least three Philips League clubs, including Blacktown Demons. Grant Turner, of the top Rothmans League club, Gisborne City, is believed to have interested the Sydney Olympians coach, Mr Tommy Docherty. The well-known Scotsman was in New Zealand for the World Cup game, which ended in a 3-3 draw. Wooddin is thought to have been offered about $20,000 to play across the Tasman, but Mr Les Watson, the Dunedin City spokesman, said every effort would be made to keep the skilful striker in Dunedin, certainly for the remainder of 1981.

i, He admitted Wooddin was I- not under any contract with >t the club, but he is registered >, with Dunedin City and Mr >. Watson believes that is suffip cient to ensure he stays with ;- the club in the meantime. ’ However, Turner is in a different situation, and- his Gisborne City coach, has taken a firm stand on any 1 attempt to lure Turner to Australia. “He is under contract until the end of the year,” he said. He added that Mr Docherty is “quite entitled” to try to persuade Turner to transfer, but Gisborne would want a minimum fee of $20,000. "That's what he’s worth,” he said bluntly. "If Ken Boden (an Australian midfielder) is allegedly worth

$30,000, then Turner is worth at least $20,000.” Mr Fallon was strong in his criticism of the “totally inflated” transfer market in Australian soccer, and cited Boden, who scored one of Australia’s goals against New Zealand but did little else, as an example. Mr Fallon said he believed that Wooddin and Turner were the only players to have been approached by Australian clubs since last Saturday’s match. If the pair were to play in Australia next winter, it would bring to eight the number of New Zealand players from Saturday, out of the 13 used, who are playing club soccer in Australia. Meanwhile, the New Zealand team will leave on

Friday morning for Fiji where it will play its second World Cup qualifying game, on Sunday. The 18 players who will leave Auckland on Friday are: Sam Malcolmson, Frank van Hattum, David Bright (Manurewa), John Hill, Grant Turner, Keith Mackay (Gisborne City), Glen Adam, Ricky Herbert (Mount Wellington), ' Steve Wooddin (Dunedin City), Bobby Almond (Christchurch United), Adrian Elrick (HanimexNorth Shore), Glen Dods (Adelaide City). Allan Boath (Woolston W.M.C.), Steve Sumner (Newcastle, captain), Brian Turner, Clive Campbell (Wooliongong), Richard Wilson. Duncan Cole (Canberra City.