Paul Ifill ready to end premiership career

Paul Ifill isn’t muttering the word ‘‘retirement’’ just yet but the former Wellington Phoenix star admits Tasman United’s final match of the season will likely close the curtain on his ISPS Handa Premiership playing career.

After a ruptured Achilles tendon forced Ifill to retire from the professional ranks, the 38-year-old has spent the past four seasons playing out his career in New Zealand’s amateur national league, initially joining Team Wellington before taking on a player-coach role with Hawke’s Bay United.

He then led expansion side Tasman United in their first two seasons in the competition.

Having scored 12 goals in 14 games, this season has easily been the most productive of the four. But a fit and healthy Ifill has revealed his decision to call it quits has nothing to do with his onfield performances.

It stems instead from fact living in Wairarapa and spending too much time away from family by commuting to Nelson every week for training and matches.

‘‘Everywhere it’s a travel,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s two and a half hours to Hawke’s Bay, an hour and a half to Wellington and an hour and a half down to Wellington, and then there’s a flight on the other side to Nelson. I’m away four to five days a week and it’s tough on the family.’’

Although he toyed with the idea of moving to Nelson permanently, Ifill said he planned to remain in Wairarapa for the forseeable future and therefore was relinquishing the opportunity to playin the national league.

‘‘I think it’s probably time for me to go back to being a family man; they’ve had to follow me around with football for a number of years,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve actually had quite a good season on a personal note, and I’ve been quite pleased with how it’s gone. But you don’t want to go on too long, so maybe it is time.’’

Three ISPS Handa Premiership players – Andre de Jong, Cameron Howieson and Tim Payne – have been selected in the 24-man All Whites squad for next week’s friendly against Canada, a good endorsement for the league.

Ifill said although people criticise the standard, he believed it was achieving its main objective, which is to develop All Whites and professional players.

‘‘I’ve heard people say the standard is poor but you look at the players that have come out of it, like Albert Riera. He hadn’t played professionally until he came to the Phoenix, and he certainly didn’t look out of place. The Phoenix would pay good money to get him back now, I’d imagine,’’ he said.

Although he will still play for Wairarapa United in the Central League, Ifill will now invest more time in coaching. As well as continuing to run the Paul Ifill Football Academy – which has branches in Wairarapa and Nelson – he will take the Wairarapa United women’s team this year.