Mr Adshead returns

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 52

Mr Adshead returns

PA Auckland New Zealand's World Cup manager, John Adshead—his future still uncertain—is keen to have his New Zealand soccer team back in action “before Christmas" but warned that "there will be changes in the squad.” Mr Adshead, who returned to Auckland yesterday after taking ’ a break in England after New Zealand's, elimination from the World'Cup, is keen to see the side play again this year. And looking for those changes in the squad he will again be out watching club football this weekend.. “A lot of- players will be on the way out. I know it and they know it," he said, “but if we are to be back in 1986 then we have to get started now.” / . But as ever, any enthusi-

asm he might have to get his team together is tempered by his uncertain future in the game here. Mr Adshead, whose future is to be decided at a meeting of the New Zealand Football Association in September, confirmed that “there are problems to be sorted out" but again stressed that money was . not the key to any agreement which might be drawn up. Even before he met N.Z.F.A. officials in Spain, it .was widely accepted that a clause in the contract between the association and the national coach, Allan Jones, was leading to the breakdown in talks involving the association and Mr Adshead over his future.in the game. “I don’t think it will be an easy one to overcome,” said Mr Adshead, "but I hope something can be worked out. It would be very sad if it

came to a situation where one of us felt he had to resign as I feel we are doing a good job for soccer here."

While he refused to comment on Hie matter, it is believed that the contentious issue surrounds the selection of the national under-19 side. ' Mr Adshead. reiterated that he had come to an agreement with the association over money but agreed that it was “not a great amount and certainly not as much as some club coaches here might be getting." Of the $30,000 which was supposedly given to the N.Z.F.A. by the Sports Foundation for him and his assistant. Kevin Fallon, Mr Adshead said that if. it had been given for past services he had not received it. “If on the other hand it is to be used to retain us then I am sure it will be used for that purpose,” he. said.