Ten days out from the start of pre-season training, World Club Cup-bound Auckland City have yet to sign a coach.
Club chairman Ivan Vuksich said the club was determined to have a coach in place when pre-season training started on September 1 but was not sure who would pick up
those reins.
"We have been talking with an overseas coach and while there have been some issues, those discussions are still alive," said Vuksich.
"But it is now at the point where we have had to come up with a definite timeline. We can't afford to go into training for the new season without a coach in place."
The club has also kept in touch with Paul Posa, who took over from Colin Tuaa midway through last season and steered them to the O-League and New Zealand Football Championship and the spot in the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in December.
"Paul has been very supportive and while his preference is to take a role as assistant coach, he would not leave us in the lurch and will step in if we can't sign a coach. It is an awkward situation but Paul has been very good."
In the meantime, the club has continued to sign players, with 14 or 15 from last season's squad already committed to the 2009-10 season.
Experienced campaigners including last season's club captain Ivan Vicelich and strikers Keryn Jordan and Grant Young have re-signed, as has goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley.
City have also signed Ian Hogg, Jacob Mathews and Daniel Kopricvic - who all started the season at Waitakere United last year - and goalkeepers Paul Gouthard and Greg Walters.
Gouthard, 34, who played for the England non-league side for a number of seasons, made an impression when he played for Warkworth against Central United in the Chatham Cup clash at Kiwitea St this season. American-born Walters has played at Waikato FC.
Jason Hayne, who has been playing in Queensland after an NZFC season with YoungHeart Manawatu, has returned to Auckland City.
He, too, has played at Waitakere but was in the City side who played the World Club Cup in Japan a couple of years ago.
