KEY POINTS:
For the past two months, Ricki Herbert has been the coach of a non-existent club. Although it seems only one step away, with New Zealand Soccer likely to grant Wellington the A-League licence by Thursday, it's been a strange summer for the All Whites boss.
It started with
a highly successful but risky five-game custodianship of a ramshackle club after the Knights' licence was revoked. It also featured instructions from the national body that he had to be the coach of a professional side even though they wouldn't be helping finance it.
Then there was speculation about whether the team would be based in Auckland, Wellington or Palmerston North and attempts to piece together a competitive squad even though there was no club to recruit for.
Herbert is prepared to relocate to Wellington, or perhaps commute initially if contract terms can be agreed, and it will soon become apparent which players are interested in joining him there. All Whites skipper Danny Hay confirmed he isn't prepared to move south.
Stored away on Herbert's extensive files is his wishlist of players. With A-League rules stating only four foreigners are allowed in a 23-man squad, at least 19 must be Kiwis or Australians. He wants a dozen New Zealanders and knows this is the most important piece of the recruitment puzzle.
"We would be allowed four overseas players but I would put that to one side because, in the greater scheme of things, there are thousands of them around the world," he said before jetting off to Canada for the under-20 World Cup draw. "There are 450 players in China off contract so if you miss one, there's probably another one not too dissimilar.
"But if you miss a New Zealand player and come down one or two, you might not get the same product. There is a priority around New Zealand players first but I still can't do that yet. We still don't know if there is a club and if so, what budget I might have to work with."
Midfielder Tim Brown has been offered a two-year deal to stay at Newcastle but hasn't signed in the hope of returning to New Zealand. He would be one of the first targets, along with the likes of Ivan Vicelich, Leo Bertos, Vaughan Coveny, David Mulligan, Tony Lochhead, Shane Smeltz, Glen Moss, Jeremy Christie, Jeremy Brockie and Adrian Webster.
Bertos, Christie and Brockie are still contracted to A-League clubs but, with Kiwis considered foreigners in Australia, they might be granted releases. Likewise, Vicelich and Mulligan are still contracted in Europe but Vicelich's Dutch club could be relegated and Mulligan's Scunthorpe might be prepared to let him go.
"I don't think we're too far behind the eight ball because A-League rules mean New Zealand players aren't in such high demand and I have some very good contacts in Australia with some very good players available," Herbert said. "But it would be good to have a defined date so we can get the ball rolling."
Both NZS and Wellington have received interest this week from people who want to invest in the club but everything needs to be finalised by Thursday. The FFA have said they won't go beyond this and have even been trying to get Townsville up to speed in case Wellington falls over.
"The short stint last season gave me a taste of what it's like," Herbert said. "Version 2 [of the A-League] was great, imagine what Version 5 is going to look like. It's where I want to be."
Herbert has been patient all summer. At last the end is in sight.
