Soccer: Herbert deal still on cards

Ricki Herbert will be high on the agenda when New Zealand Soccer (NZS) and Knights bosses meet for talks this week.

It has been three months since it was floated that the All Whites coach could be employed as the A-League club's technical director but, other than an agreement in principle between NZS and the Knights, nothing has been formalised.

It's still up for debate what the role would entail, and Herbert admitted he was still in the dark and hasn't been included in discussions to date. "I'm not sure what the position would be," said Herbert, who on Tuesday names his 20-man squad to take on Premiership sides Charlton and Blackburn next month.

The other individual who would be most affected, Knights manager Paul Nevin, is also unsure what any relationship would mean, as he hasn't been involved in talks either, but he's open-minded about Herbert joining the staff.

"If he has got something to offer, then fine, but he has a massive job himself and has to decide if it works for him."

Herbert is ambitious and he would welcome a more active coaching role. While there is a good chance he will help out the Knights, and his ability to lure some top Kiwi players back to New Zealand would be invaluable, there's also a chance he might prefer to ply his trade overseas.

For now, though, the Knights are the first port of call.

"I'm very keen for Ricki to be actively coaching and not constrained by the limits of an All Whites programme," said NZS chief executive Graham Seatter, fresh from four weeks at the World Cup.

"We have an agreement in principle with the Knights, but exactly what that means is what we need to work out." Seatter is expected to meet with acting Knights chief executive Bob Patterson this week.

Virtually even before John Adshead had cleared his desk after being deposed as Knights manager, Herbert was being talked about as a possible successor. Nevin took on the role, but Herbert was soon being touted as a possible technical director.

Owner Brian Katzen is an ardent supporter of the move and wants to establish a formal relationship with Herbert and future All Whites coaches, while A-League boss Matt Carroll is also a fan because he sees it as a way to get more Kiwis involved.

The only one who expressed reservations publicly was former Knights CEO Steve O'Hara, who questioned how the national coach could juggle a role with a club - but he left after a rocky seven months with the Knights.

Privately, though, the board of NZS was reluctant to get into bed with the Knights, believing reputations on both sides would be tarnished if the club once again failed.

In reality, however, it's unlikely Herbert would be affected because he's had no input into the makeup of the squad. They will kick off their A-League campaign on August 27 - with or without Herbert.

* The Knights are still chasing Auckland City and former South African striker Keryn Jordan, but he's also considering an offer from Perth Glory, as well as whether to stay with City to play in the World Club Champs in Japan in December.

The 30-year-old marksman, who scored 21 goals in last season's NZFC and netted a hat-trick in the final of the Oceania Club Champs, had earlier turned down a one-year deal with the Knights, saying it was an "insult". It's understood the club has since improved its offer to two years.

However, Perth are believed to have talked to Jordan about a two-year deal, with the option of a third.

With two vacancies left in his 20-man squad, Nevin needs to have his side finalised by the end of the month. "The time is ticking so things [with Jordan] will be sorted out either way next week," he said.

"It's not a dead deal and we realise he has other options."