Got this off Stuff. I'd sign him up for 5 years myself....... (Makes a change, getting a story off the Dom Post instead of them getting a story off us).
Ernie Merrick is keen to extend his tenure as Wellington Phoenix coach beyond the 2014-15 A-League season. - Sam Worthington
The 61-year-old Scotsman is off contract at the end of the current campaign but with the club flying high in fourth place and playing exciting, attacking football, an extension would appear a formality.
"I'm out of contract in May but I assume I'll be having conversations shortly with the board," Merrick said yesterday as the Phoenix flew to South Australia to prepare for tomorrow night's game against Adelaide United.
A two-time A-League winner with Melbourne Victory, Merrick finished ninth in his first season with the Phoenix as he overhauled both the personnel and playing style of the club.
That groundwork is paying off in spades this season and the personable Merrick has proved popular with players, fans and media alike.
By their own admission the Welnix ownership consortium are businessmen not football people and they have quite rightly trusted Merrick to steadily improve the on-field product.
The Phoenix's A-League licence expires at the end of 2015-16 and, while background discussions drag on, Merrick was unconcerned given the club's solid financial backing and management.
"I'm pretty confident that we'll get an extension to the licence."
Merrick is already signing players beyond that term, with goalkeeper Glen Moss and midfielder Albert Riera on the books through to 2016-17.
He is also looking to recruit players for next season, with a defender and a striker top of his wishlist.
While the departures of Jeremy Brockie and Reece Caira mean there are two roster spots available, Merrick had no plans to bolster his squad in the January transfer window.
He had spoken with Marco Rojas' father and manager Rodi Rojas about a potential return but to no avail.
"There's no doubt that Rojas is going to stay in Germany and that's fine," Merrick said.
"I'll always look around and see who's available, check in with players and see how they're doing. I'll never try and twist someone's arm but I'll always let them know there's an option where I'm coaching. That's how I got the likes of [Michael] McGlinchey and [Nathan] Burns, I always keep in touch."
There are three changes to the squad that beat Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 on Sunday.
Leading strikers Burns (Socceroos) and Roy Krishna (hamstring) drop out, as does young midfielder Matthew Ridenton.
In come first-choice fullback Manny Muscat (suspension), striker Tyler Boyd and midfielder Alex Rodriguez, who ran with a soft cast on his broken hand yesterday and reported no problems.
Krishna is also expected to miss Sunday's home game against Brisbane Roar, putting the acid on Brockie, McGlinchey, Boyd and Kenny Cunningham to provide the goals.
"When you're playing three games in eight days you'd expect some change in personnel so you've got some fresh legs in there," Merrick said.
"I'm not fazed by it at all, this is just what happens in the middle of the season and we've got the depth to cover. We've gone five games undefeated so it's confidence building. Last year I reckon we'd have given away two points [against the Wanderers] and had a draw, we would have conceded. But now we're mentally much tougher and more organised at the back."
Third-placed Adelaide are without four of their top players in captain Eugene Galekovic (Socceroos), playmaker Marcelo Carrusca (groin) and suspended defenders Nigel Boogaard and Tarek Elrich.
Seventeen-year-old centre back Ben Warland is line for a debut at Coopers Stadium.
"Young Ben Warland has been doing well in training and he's a natural centre back," said Adelaide defender Dylan McGowan.
"You'd be lying to say four enforced changes wouldn't upset your side but it's something we have to deal with. It will be a test of character for us. Their [the Phoenix's] away form has taken a few people by surprise. They have got a real attacking threat and it's something we are going to have to look out for."
- The Dominion Post
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
"Phoenix till they lose"
