KEY POINTS:
Ricki Herbert, handed a three-year deal as coach of the new Wellington-based A-League franchise, has set his sights on having at least 10 or 12 New Zealand players in the 23-man squad he will name early next month.
In signing a three-year contract yesterday - starting on April 2, the day he returns from South America after this months two-match All Whites tour - Herbert made it clear he is determined there must be a strong local presence.
"I won't make final decisions until I get back [from Venezuela] but, with a number of the players I'm keen to target being with me on the tour, there will be the opportunity to discuss it," said Herbert.
He stressed neither All Whites or A-League commitments will be compromised by his dual role. "Both parties [New Zealand Soccer and the Wellington-based franchise] understand my position. I have to ensure I do the best for both."
He has already had talks with a number of All Whites, including goalkeepers Glen Moss and Mark Paston, former New Zealand Knights Che Bunce, Jeremy Brockie and Noah Hickey, plus Shane Smeltz, Tim Brown, Vaughan Coveny, Stephen Old, Jeremy Christie and Jarrod Smith.
Herbert will also continue talks he has had with US-based Tony Lochhead, David Mulligan, Leo Bertos and long-time Dutch-based first division midfielder/defender Ivan Vicelich.
Brown has been under pressure from the Newcastle Jets to re-sign but held off awaiting the outcome of the granting of the New Zealand licence. Vicelich, Bertos and Mulligan are contracted but that might not be an issue.
Herbert will continue to look at the Australian market and must also consider the four non-New Zealand/Australian players he can sign. That, he admits, will be the key. He is interested is signing Australian midfielder Richard Johnston and will have further talks with Leilei Gao from last season's beleaguered Knights before looking further afield for strikers and attacking midfielders for the yet-to-be-named club.
With a salary cap of A$1.8 million ($2.04 million), Herbert must select wisely. "It is not a case of sorting out how much I'm prepared to pay this player or that," said Herbert after confirmation of the successful Wellington bid yesterday. "I have spoken to a number of agents but I need to liaise with [new owner] Terry Serepisos and work it through."
Serepisos, a multi-millionaire property developer, says he would not have thrown his support behind the franchise without Herbert. "We are not going to be running a buddy-buddy system. We want the best people in all roles."
Serepisos, who has lived in New Zealand since the age of two and who has taken a 100 per cent shareholding in the new club, is managing director of Century City Developments and a long-time supporter of sport and soccer in particular.
He did not make a call on looking into supporting the franchise until a week ago. "I looked at it and decided someone needed to step forward. I saw it as a great opportunity to help out. I sat down with John Dow and Ian Wells and felt I could do something. It only took me a day or two to decide."
New Zealand Soccer chairman John Morris and chief executive Graham Seatter were overjoyed with the outcome, admitting they were looking forward to a celebratory beer before joining Serepisos, FFA heavies Matt Carroll and Ben Buckley, Herbert and others at dinner.
"There is a high level of confidence in Terry Serepisos," said Seatter. "He is a mover and shaker."
Morris was quick to claim: "It is a great day for New Zealand Football. It is a totally brand new beginning."
Carroll was even more to the point. "It's a relief," he said. "They have already signed New Zealand's best coach and we think it is going to be a great success."
