Central League

Good point, well presented.

Is the Central League title really worth spending all that cash!?...suppose 20k to him is like a $2 coin is to me though

I think the CL title is a short term ambition for the Rapa. ASB Prem is their mid term ambition.  Your comment is equally valid even with that goal, but I suppose money is made round to go round and at the end of the day, what club wouldn't love to have a benefactor like Phil

That's true, every club would love a bit of extra help on the cash front. I just hope that he is pumping it into the club setup as much as he is into the players' pockets (who stick around for 1 or 2 years) because if the day comes where he decides to pull the pin...I hope Rapa can sustain their position.

Last time I played against Rapa we had to get changed in a little old shed with 1 shower, then play on a dog poo park, not really the setup that reflects spending thousands and thousands on players

So what is the downside for football of Phil building a quality team over the hill with an eye to getting in the ASB Prem?

It inflates the expectations of players at other clubs for one thing.

Waitakerie Utd would love him to bits.

No downside to building a quality team. The main question I'm asking is he putting as much money into the setup and structure of the club as he is into players' pockets? Genuine question, not having a dig, as I don't know if there are plans or not towards building their own stadium/park like the likes of Miramar & Napier have got?

All I see each time I've played Rapa is....playing against quality, expensive players...on rubbish pitches with p!ss poor facilities. Surely he is working towards getting the balance right? If he's got all that cash to spare...please tell me plans are fully underway?

I fully agree with that JM...which in turn puts higher pressure on AMATUER clubs that don't rely on a sugar daddy for cash

Sorry that was in quote to hightening expectations...my bad for not following proceedure

Surely a downside is the opportunity cost of how that money could be better spent for better long term gain?

Starting to make sense 

That doesn't mean I support paying players in an amateur league. 

A downside is that it forces others to spend to compete. An ideal situation is that no team pays players (won't happen as there is a sort of prisoners dilemma situation to it). At the very least it theoretically forces other clubs to spend more to compete, taking resources away from other areas of the game. 

You also say he is doing it to get into ASBP, well that is also an amateur league and I believe gets a lot of its funding from pokies based on that premise. So from that point he either breaks those rules (yes like every other franchise is) and endanger funding, or he goes to not paying players and those players leave. 

I'm looking at this from a theoretical standpoint you should understand. I know it isn't all that practical for all clubs to come together and say "let's not pay players" then trust in each other not to cheat that promise. Especially when you have situations like Rapa where it is someone's personal money being used. 

I bet you could get several hundred gold handles for the wage Philly is paying for Hamish Watson and the likes...come on mate think about it.

Also about the pitch, it was a league fixture, so playing in the top flight league warrents a top class facility (pitch, changing rooms, showers etc) so my point is how is he justifying spending all this money on wages year in year out and not putting it into providing a proper club set up for Rapa?

Yeah that would be a stumbling block if the council don't play ball. But surely Phil has the money/power in Rapa to facilitate a new pitch for the club?

from 2011

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/wairarapa-news/sport/6015745/A-park-for-rugby-and-football

The current position in the Wairarapa is that Phil has been asked to maintain a high profile for Wairarapa United this season to maintain the momentum for funding for an artificial pitch on Memorial park number one Masterton to be completed in time for the 2015 season. This is a joint project with Wairarapa Bush rugby, Wairarapa United, the three regional councils, the Lottery commission and Trusthouse at a cost of 2.2 million dollars.

The artificial is to be a grade 5 turf, the same being installed for Cardiff Arms park in Wales suitable for international football and rugby and will be the only one in NZ to this standard. Memorial park has currently seating for 8000 including covered seating for 4000. This venue could become one of best venues for club football in NZ.

July is when officially the funding becomes guaranteed.

Great work. Suck on that haters 

Not a hater. Every club does it to different extents. At least with rapa it's just one guys personal money being used for it. 

Has Watson's transfer request been withdrawn. Was listed as pending now can't see it in the list. IPhone eyes? 

No must be the "Speights" 

In defense and support of you Tegal, I am largely in agreement around payment of players. There are very few in NZ that deserve it on their ability. The End.

The flip side, is that the man is reaching into his own pocket. I rag on ACFC and their funding from pokies (and Term fights that better than anyone) but he is not robbing pokies and not robbing junior football subs like Glenfield, Bay Olympic etc. In that respect, as much as I think there are fuck all players that are good enough to be paid (and lets be honest, anyone can hoof a ball 40 yards on the fly, does not mean they should be paid for it) they are not doing it in a manner that is a con, a sleight of hand or ripping others off. Hard to really protest against that when its out in daylight and legit. As much as I don't like it, it is up front, out in the open, not dodgy and not hiding/shy.

I also like the argument that others put forward and I am not sure exactly where I sit just yet:

The investment in players or the investment in infrastructure. That one is an interesting argument and each person is different which very justifiable positions.

It would be interesting to compile a list based on opinion:

Players who deserve to get paid to play football as an amateur in NZ whether it be regional or national football.

A downside for me is that clubs are unable to compete using 'the old model', ie amateur football as we used to know it. Lots of clubs with great history fading into the background (or at least 2nd/3rd tier because it's just too hard without the funds. Just my opinion.

Also, many of the Clubs you mention are fading away because they once had the funds and used them unwisely.

An old football administrator once told me -"no Club ever went broke paying travel - many have gone broke paying players"

He was right

So New Zealand actually has four professional teams: Wellington Phoenix, Auckland City, Cashmere Tech and now Wairarapa United.

er... add Glenfield Rovers, Waitakerie Utd., Wellington Olympic, Lower Hutt, Hawkes Bay Utd. Napier city Rovers.... etc. etc. The bucks stop where?