Michael Burgess: Herbert's timing unusual

Ricki Herbert has an open mind around who will make up his starting side for Wednesday's match against Mexico. Photo / Getty

It's not a surprise that All Whites' coach Ricki Herbert is stepping aside - but the timing of the announcement was unusual.

Herbert had signalled a long time ago that he would retire at the end of this current campaign, which those in the football community accepted as a prescient move.

He seemed to have second thoughts in the wake of the humbling defeat at the Azteca. His pride had been hurt and clearly it crossed his mind that he might want another shot, worried about the effect the Mexico games would have on his legacy.

Since arriving back in Wellington he has reverted to plan A - perhaps after being assured by New Zealand Football that this was the best course of action - but why make the announcement public just over 24 hours before the match?

The usual course of action would be to publicise such a decision in the press conference after the game. Or, if that was undesirable, then deflect all questions about the future (awkward, but hardly impossible and Herbert is an expert deflector) and convene a press conference the following day when a decision can be announced and explained.

The timing of the release means that instead of focusing on the All Whites and their biggest game on New Zealand soil in four years (sure the tie is all but over but tonight's match is still the most important in this country since 2009 and a great opportunity for the sport), today we are talking about Herbert.

The coach certainly looked like a man with a lot on his mind during yesterday's captain run at Westpac Stadium. Just a few minutes after he had told a group of hand picked media at the team hotel of his decision to step away, he was on the field at team training.

As the squad warmed up, doing possession games in small squares, Herbert wandered away to the middle of the field. He stood alone, then spent several minutes hitting a few long passes to manager and former All White team-mate Brian Turner.

Perhaps everything was sinking in, that it was all over, after one of the longest managerial spells in New Zealand football history and an age by modern standards.