Phoenix axe assistant coach

Phoenix axe assistant coach

Stu Jacobs has lost his job as Wellington Phoenix assistant coach with the club's top brass calling for Ricki Herbert to take a more hands-on approach coaching the A-League football club.

While Wellingtonian Jacobs, one of the brightest coaching talents in New Zealand football with a stellar domestic record, is the major casualty of the coaching shake-up, it is understood fellow assistant coach Wayne O'Sullivan has been down-graded to a technical analyst role, leaving Herbert as the sole coach.

The move follows an end-of-season review of the football department where owner/chairman Terry Serepisos and chief executive Tony Pignata requested that Herbert take a more hands-on coaching role after the inaugural season, which saw the Phoenix finish bottom of the table.

Jacobs remains head coach of national league franchise Team Wellington and the New Zealand men's under-20 side, and is expected to return to his role as director of football at Dave Wilson's Ole Soccer Academy in Porirua.

The former Miramar and Wests coach did not return calls yesterday but sources say he was taking the news hard.

Pignata told The Dominion Post last night that Jacobs' axing had nothing to do with his performance during the first season and that it was more about what shape they wanted the coaching structure to take.

"It was about moving away from having two assistant coaches, which Ricki felt he didn't need if he was going to be more hands-on," Pignata said.

"It was a difficult decision, because everyone contributed a lot to this season, but for us going forward it's about results and we feel we have to beef up certain areas in the football department - just as we do with players - and that's what we're doing."

Former All Whites and Kingz assistant coach Jacobs, who has won several national league, Central League and Chatham Cup titles, is leading the revival of Team Wellington in the New Zealand Football Championship but Pignata denied that role had played any part in the decision.

Team Wellington could potentially be involved in a playoff with the Phoenix to determine New Zealand's representative in next year's O-League, which would have presented a major conflict of interest.

"No, it didn't enter into my mind," Pignata said.

It is understood O'Sullivan's role will consist largely of video and technical analysis, with a small coaching element.

Goalkeeping coach Chris Pile, who was assisting the Phoenix on a part-time basis, is also out of the loop. Management wants more hours out of the role but Pile's job outside of football does not allow for it.

Fitness trainer Paul Emanuel won't be there next season, either - he is returning home to Australia for personal reasons - while physiotherapist Craig Newland's position has been replaced by the wider "head of medical services" role.

The new position, and that of strength and conditioning coach, will be advertised in the coming weeks.

"People will read into it want they want," Pignata said, "but we've made these changes as stage one of our recruiting phase.

"It's all about gearing up for season two.

"We've got time to do it and we're going to do it slowly and effectively. The team will come back on March 3 and we will have most of it in place."

smithy2462008-01-28 09:09:31

 about time.

Stu should be in charge

I like it.  We're all saying that we want improved results on the pitch, this makes Ricki more accountable.  What's the point of having such a well qualified coach if the coaching is being done by others.

I think it's a real shame.  Stu is a good guy and a good coach and I'm sorry for him.  I can't see how he's put a foot wrong.  He'll be gutted.

danielsleftball2008-01-28 09:14:09

I think you're right DLB, this is quite possibly Seripisos' way of saying to Herbert: you'll be next son unless you lift your game.

All in all it looks like a tightening of roles (Ricki and Sully) and an increased focus on goal keeping coaching and player health/fitness.

not sure if i could see an opening for a new assistant coach in that article Smithy, but you may have a clearer picture of what's going on than me

I felt our fitness relative to other teams dropped off from the start of the season when we looked relatively strong - so some changes there might be good, though the out-going guy would probably  have made changes to the programme anyway.

I wonder if this will put pressure on Ricki re the All White's obligations?

All in all, it once again indicates Terry S's commitment to improvement.

Does this open up a gap for Ross Aloisi to take on a assistant coach/mentoring role with the Phoenix?

He always said he saw his future in coaching and he has a lot of mana at the club.

looks like a massive no confidence vote by Terry in a lot of staff. Ricky - doing more coaching. What was he doing before? O'Sullivan - demoted. Jacobs, Newlands,  jobs no longer exist. Fitness guy, gone , all of a sudden.  In the backroom, adverts for marketing, sponsorship, ticketing people (these aren't new jobs, people at the Nix already had them). Big overhaul, wonder what will happen if we don't make top 4 next season? My guess - same as what happened to the Basketball Saints coach last year- gone before the season's out. Most disappointing thing for me is Jacobs going. Wasn't much made of the pathway for young players that the Nix opened up? No evidence yet of any committment there and without Jacobs as a link to NZFC even less. As for Ross, great guy, but is he qualified to coach? Aloisis for Jacobs, not the swap I would make.

Agree completely rightstr re Aloisi for Jacobs.  Being a passionate player doesn't make you a competent coach and assistant at the Phoenix isn't the place to cut your teeth.

yeah your take on it makes more sense, i misread the change in Sully's role, i must need a coffee!

Mathew Steinbauer will not be happy.

Interesting decision this. Ricki has let go the one coach who has won a lot of silverware, in fact stu has won an awful lot more than Ricki himself - maybe there is some clash there. I am sure that Stu has not become a bad coach. The pressure now on Ricki to succeed without any excuses will be intense. Reading between the line I believe that if Ricki doesnt look like he is doing the job he will be gone.

He will have to bring in an assistant coach that is a very strong coach but one that understands team dynamics. The problem with that is the majority of assistant coaches dont have to worry about that and most of the top head coaches don't take assistants roles.

Ricki needs a coach that understands how to defend and how to get a team to defend. Ricki's teams never quite become top defensive teams, sure they score goals but he very rarely has a strong platform to work off so they have to score a lot of goals.

I would be dissapointed to see Aloisi become the assistant coach as what sort of credentials does he have over and beyond what Stu has. Its not like there aren't a strong bunch of well qualified NZ coaches who could do the job. The last thing I want to see is 20 Australian and Overseas players in the Nix and all the coaches are foreigners as well. We watched the Knights go there and it was just so boring.

Even though Tony P said it wasn't in his mind, do you think the Stu Jacobs being coach of Team Welly and a possible face off in the o-league (if were ever allowed to play in it, although it does sound more and more likely) had anything to do with it?

And maybe if Ricki ever leaves the coaching position he may be replaced by Stu? Or if they were looking for a local coach he would be up on the list? its just a thought.

And in regards to the youth players/NZFC players not getting a chance to get into the nix, perhaps the implementation of a youth squad like the ones the other a-league teams will help that. and a pro-active stance on scouting talent from around the country

Just throwing an idea out there - could Stu's axing maybe have a political element re: the other 7 NZFC clubs? They might see his role with the Phoenix as being an unfair advantage for Team Wellington's O-League results (ie if Stu, hypothetically speaking of course, got TW to give the game to the 'nix should team 3 be a threat to the Phoenix), so this might be a trade-off to promote Phoenix O-League eligibility?

Team Wellington could potentially be involved in a playoff with the Phoenix to determine New Zealand's representative in next year's O-League, which would have presented a major conflict of interest.

"No, it didn't enter into my mind," Pignata said.

I doubt that. Wellington in reality dont have that much chance of qualifying for the 2009 O-League as both Auckland and Waitakere seem to have the wood on them and one of them will win the championship.

TW arent in the 2008 O-league  and from all reports the Nix will play off against the winners of the two groups in April this season so Stu has very little say in that regards.

As for stu replacing Ricki, why would they fire him if they wanted to groom him as the replacement. There are a group of Kiwi coaches that would put their hands up and some of them are better credentialed so Stu would probably be high in the mix but probably not favourite of the kiwi coaches.

My gut feeling is if Ricki doesnt succeed we will see a coach brought in from offshore to coach the Nix.
Marama2008-01-28 10:44:00

oh well soo whats happening is ricki doing all coaching jobs?

then we all have to give them all the support we can to ensure they do succeed. There has to be a nix and for a lot of reasons but Ricki just has to get it right this year and make the playoffs. He will need a very strong defensive coach to do that. That is the reason Stu has gone is all I can think.

10 hours a week - 5 x 2 hr sessions a week = 10 hours? Do you think they might combine the roles and get a goalkeeping coach who can be an assistant. - Gould was a goalkeeper and so was Milicich and they both can coach keepers.

Watch this space??

not too sure what I think about the dumping of Stu and the othe assistants. I do think that its a good idea to utilise Rickis coaching skills more though. Always thought he needed to be more hands on - neing the highest qualified coach and all.

It may not have entered Tony and/or Stu's mind, but that doesn't mean it didn't enter the minds of those at Auckland City, Waitakere...who may have brought it up as a concern, regardless of where anyone involved at Wellington stand on it.

As for those writing off Team Wellington - it's only halfway through the season, the season isn't written off, sure the top two are favourites for good reason but that doesn't mean we can't pull off an upset.

Good news this. Even though Stu is probably a good coach it is showing that the board are not going to stand for us being 8th and that change might bring succes. ... If they carry this  on then Elrich and Old and Brownlie shall be next to go.

Scottishbhoy2008-01-28 11:22:26

i think this is down to the fact that rikki has clearly stated in match programmes that the season gone by was not important, he always wrote it off because its our 1st season but he made a bold predicition that we would make the top 4 next season, if he doesnt produce the goods after saying that next season then terry will have no choice but to replace rikki, i think rikki is a top manager and i for one would always have him as my manager no matter what, but our views are different to the people who make the decisions at the club at the end of the day.

Well that's a ridiculous view. Hypothetically, what if we were to finish 8th 5 seasons in a row?

I think the moves are positive in that they show the club are prepared to make big decisions. I can't wait to see what else the club come up with over the next couple of months.

Well that has bamboozled me. Totally confused by that decision.

Gotta laugh at the doom and gloom merchants - by my accounts it was a successful first season.

What's going to happen All White's wise then?

Stable first season, good player base, great crowds, Yellow Fever, competitive throughout.

What were you expecting for us to win it? Our first season and we were a month behind everyone else!

Must confess that I find it a bit of a strange decision. I'd have thought they'd have kept his right hand man on board at least, even if they did want Ricki to take a more hands-on approach.

If they now appoint someone else as an Assistant Coach, it would suggest to me that maybe Stu's other commitments were seen as a  problem.



Jag2008-01-28 12:37:42

fair comment jag, i see what you mean

It's a shame Jacobs had to go but we shouldn't read too much into it. Despite all the hype and big crowds this season has always had an ad hoc feel to me: a squad, staff and backroom pulled together at extremely short notice, a style of play probably some way from Ricki's ideal because of obvious player shortcomings. So I don't see these sweeping changes as a problem, more an acknowledgement that, OK, we've got through our first year of existence with credibility intact, now let's get the structure in place to take this club to the top.