Learn From Liverpool

Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall paid tribute this afternoon to Rafael Benitez and his heroic Liverpool players after Liverpool knocked holders Barcelona out of the Champions League. "I think we have to learn form the likes of Liverpool although it seems kind of strange I was cheering a last minute Liverpool loss to Manyoo only a few days ago" said Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall "and now I'm just as happy they progressed in the Champions League". Hall said you were never too old to learn in football management and he was trying to create a learning culture as he endeavoured to steer Rovers to another Championship. "I think we want to be known as a centre of excellence even if I haven't spotted the Manyoo and Barcelona scouts at our matches yet" said Hall "but you never know who is watching and it could be any day soon that a big club comes in for a Hussey or a Candy".

No To New Club Song

Zephyr Rovers Chairman George Nash today expressed concern that the club song was 'I Predict a Riot' by the Kaiser Chiefs. Nash said he thought having a band from Leeds singing about what people did in Leeds was sending the right signals about the new Rovers. "I think George associates this song with Chris Riddle and Charlie Smith who have moved on from the club" said Zephyr Rovers Manager Steve Hall "and he has suggested a nice Scottish band like Travis or Franz Ferdinand" Hall said he'd been too busy listening to the new Kings Of Leon album to get involved with thinking about a new club song, but he was confident that 'Why does it always rain on me' wouldn't be the new club song. "I don't mind the odd Travis song but let's face it they're hardly cutting edge" said Hall "and it doesn't rain inside the Shed of Dreams so I don't think songs about raining on anyone would quite work".

Rovers Fight Back

Caretaker Manager George Nash led the Zephyr Rovers to gritty come back for a well earned draw today at Shed 6. "We were up against it" said Nash "when I gave the Scottish rallying call and the boys pulled through". The day began inauspiciously when player/manager Steve Hall pulled out with a side strain and John Cao dropped with the flu. To the rescue came Toitu Te Whenua manager Dale O'Brien and Rovers had six to start the match. A cagey start saw a 3 - 3 half time score before the loss of Steve Boxall through injury saw Rovers down to the bare five. Bombers got a way to 7 - 4 in the second half but the Rovers brought out fighting qualities to peg it back to 7 - 7 at full time.

“We tried to take their players down the corner to places where they couldn't hurt us" said Nash "but our concentration dropped and we had to chase the game at the end" Nash said Ben White (pictured) pulled it out of the fire in the end with a great equalizer. "We're looking competitive with these scratch line ups against these higher rated teams" said Nash 'so we have to be confident we'll stick it to them with the like of Eddie Hussey and Craig Candy in the side".

Final Score: Rovers 7 Bombers 7

A-League Rovers??

Speculation was rife in the capital over the weekend that the new Wellington A-League franchise would be called Wellington Rovers. "I'm under strict orders from George Nash not to confirm or deny whether Zephyr Rovers have been approached about our name for the Wellington A-League side" said Hall "and George tells me that at this point I shouldn't speculate in the media whether Zephyr is the backer of the two million dollar a year Wellington based franchise". Hall said obviously as a successful club Zephyr Rovers would be happy to have an association with the A-League franchise. "At this stage we can confirm we'd be prepared to exchange tickets for our games with tickets for their games" said Hall "and we think at the very least we could become a feeder club for them, perhaps giving their stars a run in the Rovers from time to time". Rovers face a Division 5 team Bombers tomorrow in Shed 6 at 1 o'clock and Hall has withheld publicly naming his line up until match time. "We don't know too much about the Bombers but we're hoping they'll bomb tomorrow" said Hall.

Shirt Patch Announced

Reports leaked out of the Rovers camp today that George Nash was unhappy with the delay of the new shirts. "In software if we need to fix something we put in a patch" said Nash "so I got Colin McIntosh (pictured) to model a patch on his old Land Rovers shirt and I think you'll find the results were more than satisfactory". Land Rovers manager Steve Hall said he couldn't seeing sticking a patch on the shirt was going to work very well and he urged Nash to be patient and wait for the new shirts to arrive. "I hope Zephyr are talking to the new Wellington based A League team announced recently" said Hall "as I think we're on to something with this Zephyr branding". Hall was known to have a soft spot for the Zephyr name having once owned a Mk 3 Zephyr in his youth.

Rangers Colours Not On

Land Rovers Manager Steve Hall confirmed today that Zephyr Rovers would be wearing silver with black trim, resisting offers from Chairman Nash to provide a pile of his old Rangers shirts. "I wouldn't say George was fanatical about Rangers" said Hall "as he takes it far more seriously than that, but a move to Rangers colours is not on the cards". Nash said he had some new marketing ideas he'd be passing on to Heather Fernandes. "I been thinking about that bikini idea" said Nash in his Commercial Manager hat on "and it won't work as well as having the shirts modelled". Nash said the club had to look at ideas to broaden its appeal with the key 20 - 55 Geek market. "I think we're going after the technology savvy youngish male like myself who wants to see a bit more colour on the site". Land Rovers Manager Steve Hall said he thought Rovers should focus on football and if George got himself too distracted he was in danger of being rested.

New Shirts On Order

Zephyr Rovers Chairman George Nash (pictured) confirmed that Zephyr Rovers would be changing from the Emerald shirts of the Land Rovers to a new silver and black trim kit. "We think the new Silver Shirts with black trim will help Steve Hall's colour blindness problem" said Nash "he seems to have a tendency to kick the ball to the opposition and we figure he is so used to keeping hold of his silver that he might make the odd accurate pass". Nash said the supplier had yet to take hold of the shipment so the old shirts were being persevered with for a few weeks to come. "We'll probably donate them to the Irish Land Rovers Club when we're finished with them" said Nash "I've heard the Irish Rovers and boy do they need all the help they can get". Nash said he'd look into hiring high fashion models for the launch of the new kit in a few weeks time. "We're thinking bikini's here at the office" said Nash.