Soccer: Marshall steps down as Waitakere coach

Former Waitakere coach Paul Marshall. Photo / HB Today

Despite winning a hat trick of domestic football trophies last season, Waitakere United coach Paul Marshall won't be continuing in the job next season.

Marshall was offered the role but declined to accept what he described as an "extremely reduced amount" to oversee the ASB Premiership and O-League campaigns.

In his first season with the club Marshall took out the ASB Premiership league title and the Grand Final, as well as the pre-season Charity Cup. The West Auckland club also reached the final of the O-League, losing out to bitter rivals Auckland City.

"I know we didn't get the big one but we've just had one of the most successful seasons ever at the franchise and we created history along the way - so it's been a surprise," says Marshall, who also won the NZFC title with Auckland City in 2007.

"I was offered the job but for an extremely reduced amount. I had hoped for a small increase but would have done it for the same amount [as last year] ...but I wasn't going to accept those terms and conditions and we couldn't come to an agreement. I feel insulted and a bit let down to be honest."

In late May Waitakere United employed a new CEO, Bill MacGowan, who previously held the top job at New Zealand Football and has had senior roles with the Warriors and New Zealand Golf. Marshall claims the club is also looking to appoint a Director of Football, to work above the head coach.

"They are going through a restructuring process but it's a top heavy structure for one club," says Marshall. "I was happy to do both roles (coach and Director of Football) but the board felt you couldn't do both. Now it looks like they might allow someone to do both."

For his part MacGowan says the club tried to keep Marshall, as they now face having their third different coach in as many seasons.

"We made him an offer and he rejected it ," says MacGowan. "I've had several meetings with Paul. We thought our offer was fair and we later made a counter offer but we couldn't find common ground. It is disappointing that we didn't come to an agreement."

Since the departure of long time club stalwart Rex Dawkins on the eve of last season the club has struggled to fill that administrative void. MacGowan says his most pressing priority is to finalize the structure and make up of the football department. He says the Director of Football role has "been tabled" as an idea but is still in the "melting pot" and by no means certain to eventuate. MacGowan hopes to find Marshall's replacement by the end of this month.

For his part Marshall is still evaluating his future.

"I was thinking I was going to be reappointed," says Marshall, who maintains he is not bitter towards Waitakere. "That's football - that's a lesson for me - no more one year deals. But I'd like to get back into coaching at this level."