The WaiBOP United Gazette
Market31 Aug 2026
Liberato Payne puts it in writing
“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at WaiBOP United, and it is not being withdrawn.
Market31 Aug 2026
WaiBOP United turn down Hawke's Bay United for Tim Kirwan
The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.
Squad31 Aug 2026
A falling-out at WaiBOP United
Joe Rufer and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Ryan McCowatt signs on for more
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Ryan McCowatt and WaiBOP United agree another 3 years.
Squad31 Aug 2026
Matt Tuiloma falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The dugout31 Aug 2026
The manager makes an example of Deklan Fenton
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.
In brief
- The dugout Ryan McCowatt knocks on the manager's door
- Squad Noah Lewis is not doing himself any favours
- The dugout Stefan Sutton keeps his manager's vote