Soccer: Herdman's exit could lead to shake up

John Herdman. Photo / Getty Images

John Herdman's decision to turn his back on New Zealand Football could
lead to major restructuring.

Herdman, best known for his role as coach of the New Zealand women's team, has quit to take up the head coaching role with the Canadian women's side as they prepare to host the 2015 Women's World Cup.

Herdman, with NZF since 2006, was also the national body's director of football development.

His departure is seen as an opportunity to create an all-encompassing position filling the vacant high performance and director of football roles.

"We are going to sit down and reassess the whole structure," said New Zealand Football chief executive Grant McKavanagh yesterday.

Asked whether All Whites coach Ricki Herbert is likely to be more involved, McKavanagh said: "We have to be breeding players to fit the All Whites mould. That is one of the reasons Ricki has been involved with the Olympic squad this week.

"We are looking forward to putting together a philosophy encompassing all the men's teams. We have been talking with Ricki about this. We now have to sit down and look at the long-term future and by that I don't mean two or three years, more like 15."

While there is no urgency to replace Herdman as Football Ferns coach, McKavanagh said Herdman's assistant Tony Readings would step into the role in the short term at least.

"Unlike the men, who have a separate team for the Olympics, the players in the senior women's team can play in both competitions. It would make sense for Tony to stay on.

"Their next involvement is the Cyprus Cup in February followed by a one-off, home and away Oceania Olympic qualifier and then, hopefully, the Olympics," said McKavanagh.

In the meantime, 32 of New Zealand's best under-23 home-based male players have been in Taupo this week as the first steps in their Olympic campaign.

Under the watchful eye of Brian Turner, the players and coaches Neil Emblen, Michael McGarry and Chris Zoricich, with All Whites technical adviser Raul Blanco, have been put through their paces, culminating in a trial match played this afternoon.

"It has been a very, very worthwhile exercise," said Turner. "It has been similar to an All Whites camp. We have had a full staff here and the players have trained very well."

Turner expects up to 10 of the players in Taupo to contend for places in the final Olympic team should they qualify for London but stresses there is the very real possibility that only home-based players will play in next year's tough Oceania Olympic qualifiers.

"We are aware of a number of players playing offshore who will obviously be in contention for the final squad but, almost certainly, some or all won't be available for the qualifying tournament which falls outside a Fifa window," said Turner. "But, if we have to go with a team picked from these players, I have no doubt they can do very well.

"Qualifying is going to be difficult. Five games in 12 days in the heat of Fiji won't be easy."

Turner said some players had "leapt out" as definite prospects but defenders Alec Solomons (East Coast Bays) and Astley Lee (Three Kings United) will not figure today because of injuries.

"The next step is to select coaches and the technical staff," said Turner. "We have already started negotiations with Australia for home and away games as part of our preparation.

McKavanagh said he would meet Turner and Blanco tomorrow and Herbert on Wednesday with a view to putting the coaching staff in place as soon as possible.