New Zealand Knights, the team which has brought little to the A-League but the chance for duty-free shopping and a gift three points to its rivals, has promised wholesale changes after rounding off a woeful season with a 2-1 loss to Melbourne Victory.

Showing just how far off the pace they are in an otherwise competitive league, the wooden spooner Knights were put to the sword by the second bottom Victory, which should have won by a far greater margin.

Only some magnificent shot-stopping from Knights goalkeeper Glen Moss, some desperate goalmouth scrambling and Melbourne's wasteful finishing kept the scoreline at Olympic Park from being embarrassing.

Knights coach John Adshead has promised the axe will fall in the off-season, saying as few as seven of the current squad will survive the cull.

New Zealand will finish the season 20 points adrift of the second-bottom team, with a goal difference of -32 and boasting just one win in 21 matches - and none in its past 18.

The club has called a press conference in Auckland on Wednesday at which some of the changes are likely to be revealed.

But Adshead promised the Knights would sign quality players in the off-season after completely underestimating the standard of the league this season, banking on lower division English journeymen who in the main have failed to measure up.

The team's performance has led to questions why New Zealand should even be in the competition, with the seven Australian sides remaining in the finals race until the last two weeks while the Kiwis were out of contention after less than half the season.

"I've got to resolve that what happened this year will not happen next year," Adshead said.

"What I can assure you is that when we come here next year, you will not be looking at a performance like that.

"If I've got to sit here and answer to you again, my chairman will have pulled out his red card or I'd have resigned before that, because I will not stand for it.

"I know what's needed, I know what personnel are needed, and that will be done."

First half goals to Mark Byrnes and Kevin Muscat from the penalty spot gave Melbourne just its second win in its past seven matches.

But as it has all season, the Victory lacked bite in front of goal despite dominating.

Moss stopped four goalbound shots and another four were cleared off the line by defenders as the second half degenerated into unsuccessful target practice for the Victory.

Against the run of play, Knights youngster Jeremy Brockie pulled back a consolation goal in injury time which made the scoreline far more flattering than the visitors deserved.

Despite the win, sections of the Victory crowd also made their feelings known about Melbourne coach Ernie Merrick, with two banners calling for his sacking removed by security staff.

The result could help the Victory finish sixth in the eight-team league if Perth is beaten by Newcastle on Sunday.

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