KEY POINTS:
Ricki Herbert is not about to join the growing list of soccer managers worldwide to have the door slammed in their faces.
If there are to be casualties at the Wellington Phoenix after the disappointing start to their second Hyundai A-League season, the players are in greater danger of not having contracts renewed than Herbert.
Wellington Phoenix boss Terry Serepisos yesterday backed Herbert "100 per cent" after a meeting yesterday with the players, who gave that same support to their coach.
"We had meetings. First-up it was just me and the players. There were a few things the guys wanted to say," said Serepisos. "It was a real heart-to-heart - the kind of stuff that normally comes out when you are coming last. We [as a club] and the players are 100 per cent behind Ricki.
"I just wanted to see for myself if there has been a breakdown between the players and the coach. It was very quickly apparent that is not the case."
Asked whether the players accepted they were at fault for the sorry start to the season after such a bold showing in the Pre-Season Cup, Serepisos said: "Absolutely. They're taking the blame. They feel they have let us down. It is now up to the players to show me and Ricki why they should be contracted for next season.
"On Sunday they did not show us anything like that."
After encouraging early season results, the Phoenix have failed to show much in the season proper with home 1-1 and 0-0 draws producing their only two points in five outings.
Last Sunday's insipid 0-1 loss in front of the season's smallest crowd in Perth was another frustration for Herbert and the club's management.
However, Herbert is confident things can turn around.
"From a discussion point of view, yesterday was a very productive day. We were all very disappointed in the performance [in Perth]. But when we sat down and talked about things, the guys were very honest."
With his All Whites assistant coach Brian Turner along "to lend another pair of eyes", the team went through their paces yesterday with Turner later describing the session as one of "real spark and energy" and "a lot of fun for the players".
The challenge now is to turn that into results, starting with Sunday's home game against league front-runners Sydney FC.
While a win would go a long way to silencing the doom and gloom merchants, a decent performance and total commitment would at least be seen as a starting point.
PHOENIX IN 2008-09
* Drew with Queensland Roar 1-1 (home).
* Lost to Melbourne Victory 2-4 (home).
* Lost to Adelaide United 0-3 (away).
* Drew with Central Coast Mariners 0-0 (home).
* Lost to Perth Glory 0-1 (away).
