Fulltime whistle
Football boss quits
OPINION: Andy Martin’s reign at New Zealand Football was farcical until the very end.
The man unaffectionately nicknamed Andy Martian by those in the New Zealand football community once again showed he lives in an alternate reality when making the announcement he was ‘‘retiring’’ from his role as chief executive.
The carefully worded statement, written by an independent public relations firm, said Martin was hanging up his boots to spend more time with his family and to followed his ‘‘beloved’’ Liverpool ‘‘more intently’’.
It was absurd to the point it could easily have been mistaken for satire. How does one, at 51, retire without resigning?
But people shouldn’t let the almost comical ending distract them from two more pertinent issues: Why has Martin fallen on his sword now? And where to next for NZF?
That first question has a lot to do with the impending appointment of an independent investigator to review the Football Ferns environment after 13 players wrote formal letters of complaint about their coach, Andreas Heraf.
The terms of reference for the review have yet to be announced, but the focus was expected to be on more than just the Ferns. It will likely look at the entire NZF work environment.
Last week, Stuff reported the ‘‘toxic culture’’ which had developed under Martin’s leadership. At least one former staff member said they were keen to contribute to the review and tell the investigator about working under Martin. They would not have spoken in glowing terms.
There was a real sense Martin has jumped before the review would push him out.
Better to save face now than risk being dragged through the mud.
But that shouldn’t allow him to ride off into the sunset free of a thorough examination of his tenure.
NZF president Deryck Shaw’s comments in the statement about Martin’s departure, saying Martin’s ‘‘significant contribution to the growth and development of the organisation’’, cannot be allowed to be Martin’s legacy. There is no chance that will be the case.
To think anyone in the football community would believe that was disrespectful to its fan base and spoke of weak leadership from Shaw to allow it to happen. His role in this should also be questioned.
The derision the statement got on social media was deserved and the reaction to Martin’s departure was overwhelmingly of the ‘‘ding, dong, the witch is dead’’ variety.
Football fans can enjoy the relief of the moment for now but the focus must quickly switch to where to from here?
Firstly, Ferns coach and NZF technical director Andreas Heraf must resign, or ‘‘retire’’. His players have rebelled and the man who hired him has quit. Untenable doesn’t even cover that situation.
The rest of the coaches Heraf has hired are in a tricky spot too. His Ferns assistant Gareth Turnbull will be lucky to survive the review, while All Whites coach – and friend of Heraf – Fritz Schmid is in an awkward spot.
High performance manager Dwayne Woolliams has been a loyal Martin supporter at NZF head office and should probably head for the exit as well.
The new chief executive must either be a Kiwi, or someone who has worked in football in New Zealand for a long period of time.
One name that has come up already is former All White Gavin Wilkinson, who is the general manager of the Portland Timbers in America’s Major League Soccer, but whether he wants to return to NZ or would be the right fit for NZF remains to be seen.
Another candidate could be Waitakere United coach Chris Milicich, who has had success in business as well as as a coach.
There’s two names, there will be others. What must happen is for Kiwis to run their game again.
Yes, it’s good that Martin has left, but only if his position is filled by someone who has the genuine passion and knowledge to drive the game forward in this country.
Football fans can enjoy the relief of the moment for now, but the focus must quickly switch to where to from here?