Soccer: Hebert seeks a keeper

Coach Ricki Herbert. Photo / APN

The Phoenix hope to sign a goalkeeper in the next 10 days as they build up some momentum ahead of the next A-League season.

After a quiet spell, caused largely by uncertainty around owner Terry Serepisos' situation and the later start to the new season, the addition of a goalkeeper will be the club's third off-season signing. They have already added fullback Jimmy Downey and left-sided attacking player Lucas Pantelis.

Wellington coach Ricki Herbert has six goalkeepers on his radar but he is keen to have someone who has A-League experience.

"I'm not sure we had that last year until we brought in Danny Vukovic [halfway through the season]," he said. "Signing a goalkeeper will be my next move in the market. There are some buttons I will push in the next four or five days and I hope we can do something reasonably soon."

It will bring the number of signings to 15. Each club must sign a minimum of 20 players and a maximum of 23 with a requirement that three are under-21 players.

Herbert still has to sign his three youngsters but will hold off until after August's under-20 World Cup when New Zealand will compete in Colombia.

He didn't feel the level of competition in the recent Oceania qualifiers was good enough for him to make any conclusions on players and wanted to see them in a pressure situation.

One would be a central defender, another a fullback who could play on either flank and the third a midfielder who could fill in a number of positions.

"If you have 20 players in your squad and three of those are under-21 players, they are important signings," said Herbert, who is also in talks to find new assistant and goalkeeping coaches.

"If you have a couple of injuries and suspensions, then I will need to promote the youngsters either onto the bench or into the starting team and I am keen to do that this season.

"They need to be ready and good enough and I need to be confident they can go on the pitch and compete at an A-League level. It could be three New Zealand boys or none."

Last season, Marco Rojas, James Musa and Mirjan Pavlovic were the under-21 players. Rojas has signed with Melbourne and Pavlovic secured a new senior contract, while Musa would still qualify but struggled in his three appearances last season.

Luke Rowe, who recently played in the under-20 World Cup qualifiers and is part of the 30-man All Whites squad, is one option. It's believed he might be released by English Premier League side Birmingham City where he has been playing in their reserves. Herbert is keen to see more of him.

The addition of three underage players leaves two vacancies. Herbert wants a pacy striker and a creative midfielder.

"I don't have absolutely anyone in my mind who I want to sign but I have a list of people that I am going through, which is encouraging," he said, also indicating he didn't have any plans to venture to Europe to scout players. "It might not happen until the end of July, especially if they are European players who won't be off contract there until June 30."

There has been plenty of agitation from fans about the lack of movement from the club as Serepisos battled to keep his head above water.

"The enthusiasm and nervousness about the club's visibility is a really cool thing," Herbert said. "Five years ago, people didn't care about us. There was always going to be a degree of down-time irrespective of the club's [financial] situation because of the length of the layoff. Our recruitment never stopped."

Pre-season training begins on June 14 with the A-League due to start on October 7.