Opinion - Andreas Heraf more than likely has his bags packed and is ready to go.
If it wasn't already tenuous given the number and strength of the allegations the Austrian coach and administrator faces, Heraf's future with New Zealand Football (NZF) has been left hanging by a bootlace, a frayed one at that, since last Friday.
Football Ferns coach Andreas Heraf has been placed on special leave. Photo: Photosport
The resignation of NZF chief executive Andy Martin came as a shock.
Just nine days prior he had stated he was comfortable in his future as head of the national body, boldly denying strong reports he was well aware of the extent of concerns dating back to March about Football Ferns coach Heraf.
An independent investigation into the seemingly toxic environment Heraf has fostered, with the complaints of 13 players understood to centre around a culture of bullying and intimidation, was announced the same day.
The confirmation of the person who will conduct that review and the terms of reference that will frame it is expected this week.
That Martin has, as the NZF release on his departure somewhat oddly put it, decided to "hang up his boots" so close to that announcement, means Heraf should also prepare to start unlacing.
Continuing as coach of an international team in football (a sport requiring 11 players), when more than a dozen of those players have stated on record they will not play under you leaves him in an untenable position.
When one of the only people to publicly back your retention in the role, and in your other position as national technical director, slips away before he can be questioned about the allegations being levelled at you, the writing is pretty much on the wall.
It strongly suggests, as is more likely as opposed to the publicly stated reason of retirement, Martin has stepped away because he was left with little other option ahead of an extensive review into the Ferns situation.
For the person at the centre of that investigation to then survive in any shape or form would seem highly unlikely.
NZ Football President Deryck Shaw and chief executive Andy Martin during a NZ Football press conference over the Football Ferns head coach Andreas Heraf. Photo: PhotoSport
On the topic of the chief's executive resignation, Martin's preference for calling it a retirement raised more than a few eyebrows.
Make no mistake, his return to the employment world wouldn't come as a surprise too many.
Martin's exact age is not known, but he is at best 51.
His background as a long-time London banker, before taking charge of the Irish rugby club in the same city, provides a strong hint where he could potentially re-emerge.
NZF president Deryck Shaw perhaps unintentionally indicated as much when he spoke to media on Friday, all while the man himself interestingly chose not to front despite the glowing praise of his all-of-a-sudden former employers.
"Andy made the decision that he wanted to retire, and then he advised me that he had been contemplating doing it later in the year, as part of his plans for the future," said Shaw, the new frontman of the embattled organisation until an interim chief executive is appointed.
"Andy has been very successful commercially in the UK and other parts of the world, so he's made that decision around his future."
If, but more likely when, Heraf has also has some decisions to make around his future, NZF will be left with two of the organisation's most vital positions vacant.
The football community in this country will demand the lessons of the past four years, and particularly the past 12 months, are learned when Shaw and the rest of the NZF executive committee make those appointments.
- RNZ
