Soccer: All Whites set for first home-grown coach

Ricki Herbert

Ricki Herbert is poised to become the first New Zealand-born coach of the national soccer team.

At a press conference today it is expected Herbert's appointment will be announced. At the same time New Zealand Soccer will confirm the one-off game between the All Whites and the Socceroos in London on June 9.

The match, to be played at Fulham's Craven Cottage ground, was first mooted by outgoing NZS chief executive Bill MacGowan before Christmas and will be used by the Australians as a lead-up to the Confederations Cup in Germany.

Herbert's appointment as the first New Zealander in the role for at least the last 50 years is set to be confirmed and welcomed by those who have long questioned the succession of British coaches holding those reins.

Herbert's assistant will not be named but it is likely he will opt for Brian Turner, who helped him with the national under-23 team. NZS chief executive Graham Seatter would not be drawn on the matters to be raised at today's media conference but did say he was keen to see the All Whites back in action.

"I would like to see a minimum of 10 fixtures a year both home and away. If we set the bar at that height we have to have a crack at it. The challenge for us is to find the funding to make it happen. Without more international football we are not going to develop the All Whites.

We have to play teams ranked above us.

"That is why we are keen to further develop a relationship with countries from east Asia like Japan, Korea and China."

In other developments this week, Fifa has confirmed support of US$400,000 ($552,136) through their Goal Project programme that will allow the national body to buy a building which will become their home.

Seatter confirmed negotiations begun by MacGowan will allow NZS to purchase the building currently occupied by Sport North Harbour at North Harbour Stadium.

"Assuming we complete the sale and purchase agreement we could be in our new home within three or four months," Seatter said.

In another likely change, the national body could have yet another name change after the May 11 congress.

Seatter and his board members were keen to drop the word soccer from their title reverting to New Zealand Football Federation or something similar.