Soccer: Future could be All White for Ricki

It would be hard to imagine the All Blacks, or any other leading international side for that matter, without a coach for more than eight months.

But that's been the case with the All Whites since Mick Waitt was dumped after the national side's disastrous attempt last June to qualify for next year's World Cup in Germany.

While the All Whites went down to Australia, they were also embarrassed 4-2 by relative minnows Vanuatu. The wait for a new coach, though, could almost be over. With the international against the Socceroos likely to be confirmed in the next few days, it will at last prompt a decision on the next All Whites coach.

New Zealand Soccer (NZS) would prefer for the All Whites to meet the Socceroos in London in June, although September still remains an option, meaning it would be the first outing for the national side since last June.

If the game is confirmed, and new NZS chief executive Graham Seatter is hopeful things will be ironed out this week, the NZS board is likely to appoint a coach during their meeting on February 23.

The smart money is on former 1982 All White and current NZS technical director Ricki Herbert, who was Waitt's assistant for three years. During that time he helped prepare the All Whites for the Confederations Cup in France in 2003 as well as the World Cup qualifiers.

He's also paid his dues having been a coach for more than 15 years, during which time he won a national league title in his five years with Central United and coached the Olympic side that attempted to qualify for Athens.

"It would be a position that would be an exciting challenge," Herbert said if he was offered the post. I'm not dabbling in coaching. It's a lifestyle for me now and if the opportunity presented itself, then that would be great, but it would have to be right for me and right for NZS." Remarkably, if he was appointed, Herbert would be the first New Zealand-born coach to assume the top job and it would complete a transition from player to coach after he won 84 caps for the All Whites.

Waitt had indicated after the World Cup qualifiers that he would be interested in the position if the circumstances were right. They're not, meaning he won't be putting his hat in the ring.

"I'm not interested at this stage," Waitt said. "The circumstances haven't changed much from some of the things that didn't please me the last time so I won't be putting my name forward.

"I'm passionate about the game and passionate about the game in New Zealand and I would like to be involved at some time in the future. But it's got to be right for me and at the moment the organisation is not right for me."

Young coaches Chris Milicich, who has led Waitakere United into the top two of the national league, and Stu Jacobs, who was co-coach with Clive Campbell of the under-20s, are both keen on the position but admit it's probably too soon for them.

"That is a plan of mine but at this point in time I think there would be a few others ahead of me," Jacobs said. "My money would be on Ricki Herbert. He would have to be the logical choice."

Campbell is another highly-regarded coach. He could be an outside chance despite the under-20s' unsuccessful attempt at qualifying for the world championships in the Solomon Islands last month when they failed to make it to the semifinals after losses to Fiji and the hosts.

Knights assistant Tommy Mason has also been mentioned as a contender. Seatter, who started with NZS a fortnight ago, said nothing had been decided on the coach's appointment.

- Herald on Sunday