KEY POINTS:
Faced with a change of direction at his club, Waitakere United coach Steve Cain is uncertain of his future beyond the next few weeks.
The impending appointment of a fulltime director of football at the West Auckland club could mean Cain's long coaching career could soon be over or at least reeled in.
Unless, of course, United go on to win the New Zealand Football Championship, the O-League and with it the right to play in the Fifa Club World Cup (if that option remains).
"I have considered the new role at Waitakere," said Cain, a teacher at Kelston Boys High. "But at this stage I would be very reluctant to give up guaranteed fulltime employment to work in football.
"It depends how things work out whether I would look at the head coach role in the new set-up. I have been coaching since the late 80s when I was still playing. I had a couple of years away in PNG so I need to give time to my family."
United chief executive Rex Dawkins said that although the club was looking at the role as being fulltime, much would depend on the outcome of next week's New Zealand Soccer board meeting at which the future make-up of the NZFC will be decided.
"This role is not just about the NZFC, however," said Dawkins.
"It is about the development of football in the region."
He said the club had already had expressions of interest from overseas and within New Zealand.
Of a more pressing concern for Cain is this afternoon's game against Waikato FC at Trusts Stadium.
"We will not get any favours from Roger [Wilkinson] and his team, nor would I want them," said Cain. "Under a new coach, they have been the resurgent team in the last few games. It won't be easy."
Although Cain will have captain Danny Hay, Hone Fowler and Jason Rowley back, he is still without goalkeeper Michael Utting. In-form striker Daniel Kopricvic also returns from injury and will be on the bench.
United are clinging to a four-point lead with six matches to play. They cannot afford to lose home games like this if they are to hold on as the front-runners given the tough run to the finish.
Of the other contenders, second-placed YoungHeart Manawatu face the biggest challenge with their home game against Team Wellington tomorrow.
With their season hanging by a thread, Wellington, comfortable winners last week, will go all out for the points at FMG Stadium and could test Shane Rufer's Manawatu.
Auckland City, away to Otago United, and Canterbury, at home to Hawkes Bay, appear certainties to pick up points and remain in championship contention.
