Wairarapa United [in green] playing Napier City Rovers in a Chatham Cup match, are fourth in the Central League. PHOTOS/FILE
FOOTBALL
JOHN LAZO-RON
[email protected]
Phil Keinzley.
Wairarapa United coach Phil Keinzley resigned on Wednesday, saying that the club had not paid him since February.
“I have seen zilch,” Keinzley said.
Wairarapa United confirmed that Keinzley had resigned from his position with the men’s first team, effective immediately but did not respond to the coach’s claim.
Keinzley, who returned to coach the team on February 1, said he had not received a single cent in his bank account from the club.
“I have quit because commitments the club made to me before employing me haven’t been kept.
“Promises were given, but none of them have been kept, so, unfortunately, it has forced me to resign.
Keinzley, who has coached the club’s men’s and women’s team across 23 years, said he inadvertently found out about the club’s intentions not to pay, apparently due to a lack of funds, last Friday.
“I kept asking for payment but only found out by accident they weren’t going to pay me. They said they’ve got no money.
“I never knew this whole time what the official reason was for why they weren’t paying me.”
Keinzley said he didn’t want to “bag” the club but said he felt betrayed and hurt by their false promises and keeping the matter secret.
“I’m gutted,” he said.
“I feel I’ve put a lot of years into the club. I would easily be their biggest indirect sponsor. I’m really feeling betrayed right now.”
Keinzley said he was never going to use the money from those payments for himself but to reinvest it into the game of football where he felt it was needed.
Keinzley’s resignation couldn’t have come at a worse time with the club, who are fourth in the Central League, eyeing promotion into the National League.
“I found it quite bizarre that they would let this happen now when we’re in a good position at this stage to be promoted into the National League at the end of the season.
“There’s only seven more games to go.”
Keinzley said he told all his players on Wednesday of his resignation.
He said he didn’t intend to stop coaching but was unsure of his immediate future.
Wairarapa United chairman James Taylor didn’t deny or confirm Keinzley’s allegations when approached for comment but issued a statement acknowledging Keinzley’s efforts.
The statement said a replacement coach would be appointed in the near future.
“Wairarapa United Football Club committee, players and supporters would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all the effort that Phil has put into the club over the last few years, and we all wish him well for the future.”
“To all of WUFC players, supporters, sponsors, please feel assured that the club will continue forward, and we will be striving to continue the season on a positive note.”
