KEY POINTS:
Wayne O'Sullivan points to Ricki Herbert's office where the coach is working through the final details of the contract being signed by Cleberson Gois (the fourth of the four Brazilians lured to the Wellington Phoenix) and explains "he is the reason I'm here".
O'Sullivan, 32, Cyprus-born but a
Republic of Ireland international, does not mince words despite being overlooked by Herbert as a player and offered instead one of the two assistant coaching roles at the club.
"The gaffer has the X-factor," says O'Sullivan, who was released by the Central Coast Mariners after two seasons. "In the short time I have worked with him I have been amazed at what he can do and achieve."
O'Sullivan, who has signed for two years, is well-qualified to take such a pivotal role. He has an Asian Federation Advance Level (Fifa) B coaching licence and a master's degree in education (specialising in coaching) from Sydney University.
He will be Herbert's travelling assistant, leaving co-assistant Stu Jacobs his weekends with Team Wellington.
Herbert acknowledges he is well supported by the calibre of his assistants - O'Sullivan and Jacobs at the Phoenix and Brian Turner with the All Whites.
He needs all the help he can get as he continues working towards joining the coaching elite as the holder of a Uefa Pro Coaching Licence.
Herbert, just back from 10 days of intense work in workshops and other sessions in England, must now undertake various tasks, including many tutorials in middle-of-the-night conference calls before returning to Europe for three days in January to complete the course.
It is a demanding juggling act but one he relishes.
While other clubs have been hard at it in training and playing pre-season matches, he and his staff have been content "to keep to ourselves and chug along".
He has been stymied a little in needing time to find and sign players and now dealing with injuries.
Mark Paston, Karl Dodd, Richard Johnson, Vince Lia and vice-captain Tim Brown are all ruled out of tomorrow's Pre-Season Cup opener through injury.
Captain Ross Aloisi also misses the game through suspension, leaving veteran striker Vaughn Coveny to lead the team.
Herbert will start Glen Moss, Steven Old, Cleberson, Steve O'Dor, Tony Lochhead, Shane Smeltz, Michael Ferrante, Jeremy Christie, Daniel (Cortes), Coveny and Royce Brownlie and have, provided their registrations are in place, George, Felipe and New Zealand under-20 representatives Jacob Spoonley and Greg Draper on the bench.