Allan Jones' unexpected resignation has left the New Zealand women's soccer team without a coach for next month's crucial Oceania World Cup qualifiers in Papua New Guinea.
"There is nothing untoward here, its just a personal decision to step down as part-time coach of the national women's team,"said Jones.
New Zealand Soccer, which said Jones, 66, quit for professional and personal reasons, is unsure whether the other members of his coaching/management team including assistant coach, Christchurch-based Rowena Fulham, goalkeeping coach Chris Milicich and manager Craig Alexander will be retained.
The team are due to fly out to the qualifying tournament in Lae on April 6. The winner of the round-robin between New Zealand, Tonga, the Solomon Islands and the hosts qualifies automatically for September's World Cup.
With at least eight players from the Under-20 World Cup team in the national squad, there is the possibility John Herdman, who coached that team, could be put in charge.
