Soccer: Coach scores plum Pompey job

Portsmouth have been through troubled times. After seven seasons in the Premier League, they were relegated to the Championship last season. Photo / Getty Images

Three Kings coach Paul Marshall has been hired by Portsmouth, becoming the first New Zealand-born coach to work full-time in an English League club.

Marshall beat a large number of applicants to be appointed Portsmouth's assistant academy manager, with a remit to recruit 14- to 19-year-olds; as well as coach the under-19 side. He starts next month.

He will work under director of youth operations Paul Smalley, who worked for New Zealand Football as director of football from 2002-05. Marshall is currently coach of Three Kings United, who play in the Northern Premier League, and previously helped coach Auckland City to the third of their NZFC titles in 2006-07.

He also coached Central United to the 2001 National League title and last year took Three Kings, then a division one side, to the Chatham Cup final.

A lack of full-time opportunities here saw Marshall chase the Pompey position.

"I feel very fortunate," he said. "For a long time now, I have wanted to work in the game full-time. It's a tricky thing in New Zealand. You spend a lot of time getting qualified and coach senior men's teams but they are only part-time jobs.

"You can't live on what you get paid so you have to do something else and for the last few years I have been coaching, then heading overseas contracting [in sales and marketing jobs].

"This is a marvellous opportunity. It's a really good role and there were a large number of people who applied for it. That's why I feel very fortunate. Any jobs in the UK or worldwide, especially where football is the No 1 sport, are like hen's teeth."

Barry Smith, New Zealand football historian, wasn't aware of any other New Zealand-born coach working full-time in England at a professional club. Many have had New Zealand connections, like Colin Walker and Roger Wilkinson, but neither was born here.

Walker came out to New Zealand and played for the All Whites in the 1980s before returning to various English clubs, including Barnsley. Wilkinson established a long coaching record here before returning to work with West Bromwich Albion.

All Whites and Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was approached by Avram Grant to join West Ham's coaching team this season but a deal couldn't be worked out.

"It's great news," New Zealand Football chief executive Michael Glading said.

"It's the same pleasure we have when a player goes to a higher professional environment. We don't want to export people and never see them again so hopefully he will return one day to work here."

Portsmouth have been through troubled times. After seven seasons in the Premier League, they were relegated to the Championship last season.

The club went into administration because of huge debts but still won the 2008 FA Cup, then made last season's final against Chelsea.

The financial difficulties have meant Portsmouth have opted out of a reserve team this season. Many of their best talent is on loan to other clubs.

As a result, there is greater emphasis on the academy programme because they need to develop their own depth instead of buying players.

"It's going to be one of the avenues the club will look to be sustainable and make money," Marshall said.

"It's going to be a busy role but an exciting one. I just hope it's everything I expect and I'm everything they want because it's a great opportunity.

"I don't know how long I will be away for. It could be a few years, 10 years, but in the long-term I would like to come back to New Zealand to offload my learnings so our players are benefiting."