15 Mar 2012

Herbert won't be taking over Olympic team too

6:26 am on 15 March 2012

The All Whites coach Ricki Herbert has told Australian television that he won't be taking over from Neil Emblen as coach of the New Zealand Olympic football team.

In an appearance on ABC's Breakfast Show in his other role as Wellington Phoenix coach, Herbert said he would "definitely not" be taking the reigns for the OlyWhites from his sometime-assistant with the senior national team.

Emblen is in charge of the under-23 team as it prepares for the London Games qualifying campaign in Taupo, which starts against Papua New Guinea tomorrow.

Herbert went on to explain that should the team qualify for London he would be a technical director to the team and would work alongside Emblem.

The Olympic football competition is made up of mainly under-23 players with three senior players allowed in the XI.