The WaiBOP United Gazette
Market24 Aug 2026
Tommy Payne asks to leave WaiBOP United
“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.
Transfer targets24 Aug 2026
Fee done, terms next for Alex Payne
WaiBOP United and Canterbury United have settled on $74.0K. The rest belongs to the player and his agent, and a supporter who has watched one of these before knows not to buy the shirt yet.
Squad24 Aug 2026
A falling-out at WaiBOP United
Chris Colvey and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.
Transfer targets24 Aug 2026
WaiBOP United rebuffed over Setareki Hughes
Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Rewa have kept their man, and WaiBOP United go back to a list with one name crossed off it.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Noah Singh 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 dugout24 Aug 2026
The manager makes an example of Ryan Reid
“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.
Market24 Aug 2026
No place for Tim Fenton in the plan
“The manager did not use many words, and he did not need to.” Tim Fenton has his answer from WaiBOP United; what he does with it is the next window’s story.
Market24 Aug 2026
WaiBOP United add cover with Jordan Vale
It is the least glamorous business a club does and the reason seasons do not collapse in February. Jordan Vale is here for the weeks when three men are injured and somebody still has to play.
Squad24 Aug 2026
Somebody is after Ben Van Hattum’s shirt
A new face in his position, and Ben Van Hattum suddenly has to win back what he thought he owned. WaiBOP United have promised nothing — clubs rarely do at this stage.
In brief
- Market The shop window has Marco Cacace in it
- The dugout The manager plants his flag on James Waine
- Squad The training reports on Ryan Fenton are not good