The WaiBOP United Gazette
Squad8 Feb 2027
A fracture rules Zac Kennedy out for 23 days
Bones knit. That is the one merciful thing about this injury and the reason WaiBOP United will talk about it more openly than they would about a knee. He will be back, and roughly when they say.
Market8 Feb 2027
Matt Barbarouses 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.
Squad8 Feb 2027
Callum Sutton says WaiBOP United went back on their word
“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.
Market8 Feb 2027
WaiBOP United say no — this time
The offer from Hawke's Bay United for Callum Sutton was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.
Squad8 Feb 2027
Words at WaiBOP United training over how hard people work
Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Clayton Boxall is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.
Squad8 Feb 2027
Francis Lockyer signs on for more
“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Francis Lockyer and WaiBOP United agree another 3 years.
In brief
- Market Owen Smith returns from a loan that gave him nothing
- Boardroom WaiBOP United pull $790.6K back off the table
- Market Window shut, Clayton Boxall still here