Merrick pulls plug on Phoenix job
Ernie Merrick has resigned as Wellington Phoenix coach saying he will take ‘‘full responsibility’’ for the team’s early season troubles.
Merrick addressed the team after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Adelaide United to say he would be resigning. The club formally announced the resignation in a statement yesterdaymorning.
The defeat against Adelaide placed the Phoenix at the bottom of the A-League table with two wins and six losses from eight games.
‘‘I take full responsibility for position the team is currently in,’’ Merrick said in the Phoenix’s statement.
‘‘I feel that I have not performed well enough as head coach, as we have a very strong squad that should be higher up the table.
‘‘It’s therefore the right time for me to step aside and allow someone else to take over. We have a run of home games coming up and I think this will give my successor the best opportunity to take the team forward.
‘‘I’d like to thank everyone at Wellington Phoenix for the past three years and particularly Welnix, the chairman and the board who have been nothing but supportive during this time.’’
Merrick had assembled what was widely regarded as one of the best Phoenix squad’s ever this season, but the results had not come.
He lost half of the 90 games he presided over as Phoenix manager, with 30 wins and 15 draws.
It was in stark contrast to his record as Melbourne Victory coach, where he also lost 45 matches, but that was out of 151 games coached.
His Phoenix record was statistically worse than his predecessor, Ricki Herbert, who won 54 of the 154 games he was in charge, with 65 losses.
But club legend Ben Sigmund, who played four seasons under each coach before retiring earlier this year, said Merrick had moved the club forward.
‘‘I’m gutted, I’m really disappointed for the club and for him really. He’s a fantastic man.
‘‘It’s a sad day to be honest because even though the results haven’t shown and we haven’t won anything, he’s changed this whole club in terms of the professionalism, the way we should play football and the structure of the club.
‘‘We haven’t won a grand final and you get recognition for that, in terms of what he’s done at the club is unbelieveable.’’
Sigmund remains close to many of the players, but said he had been given no indication Merrick would resign.
Long-time assistant coach Chris Greenacre is likely to take over on an interim basis, with Sigmund saying he could be handed the reins for the rest of the season.
‘‘The club might say have a crack for the season and see how you go, but it’s probably a little bit fresh for anyone to know what might happen now.’’
The Phoenix said the club was grateful for Merrick’s contribution and wished him all the best in his future endeavours. He had been with the club for three years.
‘‘Ernie has been a consummate professional since the day he arrived at Wellington Phoenix and was instrumental in overhauling the way the team performed on the field and how it conducted itself off the field,’’ the statement read.
‘‘He played a significant role in the development of young players through the Phoenix academy, who are now breaking into the first team and representing New Zealand at international level.
‘‘The two-time A-League champion felt that with recent results he had taken the team as far as he could.’’