Herbert's Contract Extended

Herbert's Contract Extended

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/110125,herbert-signs-up-for-more.aspx

Wellington Phoenix have extended coach Ricki Herbert's contract until the end of the 2010/11 season, sources in New Zealand have confirmed tonight.

It's understood the contract extension of one year was signed off by Phoenix owner Terry Serepisos late this week ahead of the club's first home game of the season on Sunday against Perth.

Herbert initially signed a three year deal when the club was formed in just five months in 2007.

The vote of confidence in Herbert comes after the club went within a whisker of making the A-League finals in only its second year last season.

Herbert, a UEFA A and an Australian A accredited coach, is the busiest A-League boss in the competition. He is also in charge of national team, the All-Whites, set to face either Bahrain or Saudi Arabia in their final World Cup qualifier in the next few months.

It's been an impressive year so far for the New Zealand national team under Herbert. At the 2009 Confederations Cup they drew 0-0 with Asian champions Iraq after losses to European champion Spain and hosts South Africa.

The biggest shock hough came as New Zealand went within minutes of defeating World Cup champion Italy in a friendly in South Africa. The 4-3 loss is said to have pricked the ears of at least one interested A-League club as well as a foreign club for Herbert's services.

Herbert starred for New Zealand in their 1982 World Cup campaign and went on to play for English club Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aussie club Sydney Olympic in the 1980s.

lol... disgraceful.

I think we won't see ricky coaching the aws after the WC campaign now after terry's comments in the news recently

Uhh...why? Honestly, I like Ricki - but has he done anything results wise or performance wise to deserve this? I don't think so.

Any other coach in the A-League would have been gone by now, to be honest. I know that we don't necessarily have replacements lining up but still..
valeo2009-08-14 23:30:20

THis is how i view it.
Season one.  No time to build a team.  Had to sign everyone else rejects.
Season Two.  Got rid of some dead wood but still had some players not up to standard.
Season Three.  Has finally had a chance to mould a team he wants.

Not sure I agree with the 'any other coach' comment.  We're one (admittedly crap) game in to this season and last year we missed the play-offs on the last day... Dave Mitchell would kill for that sort of record.

It does seem odd to extend, but it's a big call to say he's lucky not to have been sacked.

Not saying it would've been the best thing to do. Just don't believe any other coach has been given the same leeway. If Ernie had a second season as bad as his first I doubt he would be here now. Same with McKinna - they played bad football at times but still got results. Has Mitchell been in the job for 2 and a bit years? He was very close to being sacked anyway.

Obviously different situations for Ricki and the Phoenix compared with other A-League clubs, though, and I guess that has to be taken into consideration. Also that changing coaches every 2 seconds hasn't helped the likes of Sydney or Perth. Does still seem weird that we would extend now.
valeo2009-08-14 23:52:46

May be the club got nervous some other club might get interested.

Are you saying our second season was as bad as our first?

Very much doubt there are offers pouring in for Ricki's services. Perhaps if he gets us into the WC!

Fantastic news!

RICKI HERBERT'S YELLOW ARMY ...

+1

On balance - yes. I was happy that we improved on the first seasons finish but we played terrible football and we still ended up outside of the finals. After such hype before last season I thought everyone expected better. We did manage to scrap enough to keep us in it until almost the end though, which was a huge positive obviously. I just think the (at times) exciting football we played in the first season was just as pleasing as a 6th placed finish.
valeo2009-08-15 00:12:18

Personally I think the board should have waited until part way through the season to see how he was going.  Having said that, as Corkster said, maybe they were worried he'd sign elsewhere.  Does anybody know the teams that were interested in signing him after the 4-3 loss to Italy?

Surely that was purely speculative.  There are more then enough decent coaches/managers in Aussie and Europe for the A League with a better track record.

He would of killed off any ofers by the time we reached the 20 minute mark agaist Spain.

Don't know if he has proven his worth but to be honest, its probably the best for the team. Especially as he has signed up a few of these guys to play his game. Can't see him here after that though unless we are really pushing forward

Should have waited a few games into the season imo. 

I read it as a statement from Terry for stability.

If there is rumour floating around the club, then this may be a way to counter it.

Not wondering if he is getting the chop can be helpful :)

We dont know the terms of the contract, maybe it is reliant on making the playoffs? Maybe an "option" for the club rather than an extension.

Excellent news.  Good to see that we are taking control of the things we have influence over early on and sending a clear message to supporters, playing staff and the a league of just what we are planning.  If nothing else it might suggest to Fox Sport football experts (an oxymoron if ever there was one) to shut the f**k up and deal with us, because we are organised, professional, stable and continually improving. Kapitinix2009-08-15 11:17:26

Luciano Trani is the other, not sure how they'd do as a head coach in the A-Leqgue but hopefully we can find some stability with Ricki's assistants as well.

doesn't seem too outrageous to me,

Must admit I'm not a huge fan of his performance to date but it is good that Terry is prepared to give his manager a chance to do something rather than get rid of him becaue the results haven't come quickly. Maybe good isn't the right word, maybe 'awfully British' is a better adjective. From my recollections, contract extensions often result in an early exit from the club (look at the NRL).

Ricki is one smooth operator.

so thats why he was having a beer at a cafe in oriental bay at lunch time today.

Just three words to say to this

I think this is a really good decision to get this club stable and solidify a lot of the good progress compared to the shambles of the Kingz/Knights.

Good. I like a defensive midfield and shooting long balls at our striker(s).

If he doesn't get the playoffs this year boot him.
That said i'll give him my backing for this year. But I don't think he deserves anymore chances.

Great work from Ricki today, good choices in the starting XI, bench and substitutions.

Ricki and his two assistants*

I'm just waiting for people to come in here and praise Ricki for tonight. I rate him as a coach, and penty of the 'experts' that bag the club rate him quite highly. Tonight was an example of what he can do if the players listen to him. Keeping the defenders from hoofing long balls is as much them adjusting their mindset as Ricki telling them too. No one can make that change for another person.

Glad he's staying on, his two assistants are very good. been watching the trainings sessions and all three are working with the players. Each bringing out something different. After tonights game and seeing us playing with two sometimes 3 up front, you can see the changes. Good stuff. more settled and the players hopefully will respond.

Call me a grinch, but does anyone else think it a bit odd that the back page of the DomPost had both the match report and an opinion piece on Ricki Herbert's contract extension? Junior822009-08-17 12:50:35

Hmm i'm not so thrilled with the news.

My question: Why sign him up so early on in this season?

Should we not wait a little bit longer to see what develops in the way of results and what-not?

Something smells fishy and its not me.