New Zealand age-group coach Paul Temple has emerged as the favourite to take the vacant coaching position at ASB Premiership champions Waitakere United.
Former coach Paul Marshall turned down a deal to continue on what he termed to be a "vastly reduced" offer, as Waitakere undergo a restructuring of operations under new CEO Bill MacGowan. Marshall guided the team to three domestic trophies last season and also dominated rivals Auckland City, losing only two of seven derby clashes - though they lost the OFC Champions League final, missing a ticket to the Fifa Club World Cup.
It means that Waitakere will have their third coach in as many seasons. Neil Emblen resigned from the post last year after being told he was unable to combine the job with his international duties. After some discussion, both parties had a change of heart and Emblen eventually applied again, missing out to Marshall.
Temple was the assistant coach under Marshall last season and has extensive coaching experience, though mostly at age-group level. A native of England, he began coaching aged 25 and got his big break in 2008 when he coached the New Zealand side in the inaugural Fifa Under-17 Women's World Cup.
At the time he was believed to be the youngest head coach at a Fifa World Cup event, for men or women. Temple was assistant coach of the U20 women's team at their World Cup in Germany in 2010 and last year again took the U17 team to the World Cup in Azerbaijan.
