23 Jun 2010

Football NZ confident of keeping Herbert

6:29 pm on 23 June 2010

Football New Zealand is confident it will keep All Whites coach Ricki Herbert after the World Cup, even if it has to share him with an overseas club.

There have been reports that foreign clubs are showing an interest in Herbert, whose contract with Wellington Phoenix has another year to run.

The governing body's chief executive, Michael Glading, who is in South Africa, says there have been talks over the past few months, though the stakes have risen recently.

"That's only positive - his success is our success," he says. "I think we can work together."

Mr Glading says that even if Herbert does consider a job overseas, they'd still be keen to have him involved with the All Whites.

New Zealand plays only half a dozen international matches each year, he says, so there's a possibility of Herbert working part-time as an All Whites coach.