KG: "What's it cost us George financially?"

GN: "Well, I won't give you specific figures but were in the black. Again despite crickets rather rubbery use of the facts we are in the black and going to the Melbourne Cricket Ground was part of the plan and we've been criticised for that as though it's an irresponsible act to try and get a record crowd to get us in the black. I mean it was always going to be tricky financially, it was always going to be tricky in all sorts of ways.

But we could see the game that we love like you guys love your game being undersold and we made some bold moves to get it in the public conscience we've done that. We didn't get the big prize but by god we gave it great shake and if anybody thinks I'm going to walk away at this point in time they are going to have to hold their breath. They wouldn't want to anyway."

GC: "That's admirable George but it's like the coach on the skids he's not going to walk away, somebody has to push him."

GN: "Yeah, but they're dealing with an old political war horse here."

GC: "That's a very good point."

GN: "I might see 'em coming and for once they might have to stab somebody in the front."

(later)

GC: "To finish, can I just ask you the question, that we are asking our 5AA listeners on our sports poll this week in light of Saturday nights match has the Socceroos World Cup campaign had a positive or negative effect on Australian soccer?"

GN: "Positive. Absolutely positive. I won't bore your listeners with a reason. Put it this way, soccer is now in the Australian publics conscientiousness and mentality and that's where we want it. We didn't get the big one but were not going to stop now."

KG: "George, let me ask you this question, when the final whistle blew on Saturday night, how did you feel?"

GN: "I think it was probably a world record, I was speechless. My partner Kirsty, who you know is an Adelaide person, said she's never seen me speechless. My private reaction was that I was very concerned about my sons who were distraught."

KG: "Were they really?"

GN: "My ten year old who's a soccer fanatic, he started crying as soon as the second goal was scored and his brother just told me he was still crying at the bus stop on the way home from school. So, I'm actually personally worried about that, it's an awful let down. Kids don't understand. Don't understand unfairness and that's what he kept saying, it's unfair."

GC: "There are sporting gods George, sometimes they smile upon you sometimes they don't."

GN: "Well, you know, the good guys don't always win but this time the good guys lost and so far as the players are concerned, I've got nothing but absolute admiration for them, how I hope people don't try to turn the clock back in Australian soccer. We've got our mean spirited antagonists in the soccer community who would like to bring it all undone. You know, we'll be making it a little bit difficult for them to do that because I think a lot has been achieved for this game and the beautiful thing about soccer and I'm not saying this because I think you blokes will be obliged to agree is that soccer can co-exist with the other codes. I hope the negatives don't drag us back to the fifties. I'd like to fight the way our guys fought in Tehran if that's try better.