All Whites need ‘serious support’

All Whites coach Anthony Hudson believes his future needs to be settled quickly, but has called for the team to receive more support, whether he remains or not.

Hudson says he needs to meet with New Zealand Football boss Andy Martin, who had expressed a desire to keep him on, even before the World Cup playoff loss to Peru.

‘‘For everyone’s sake it needs to be tidied up quickly, for the players and the team,’’ he said on Sunday, after returning to Auckland from Lima.

‘‘I think it needs to be done as soon as possible,’’ Hudson said of contract negotiations.

Earlier this month, he revealed his agent had fielded interest from several parties, but he had sidelined talks until after the Peru matches.

The 16th All Whites coach has had more resources at his disposal than any of his predecessors, but believes even more is needed.

Martin told NZME on Saturday the cost of the All Whites programme over the past four years had been $8-9 million, and questioned whether that level of funding could be maintained.

At this stage in the past two World Cup cycles, the game received a big cash injection – by qualifying in 2009, and by selling TV rights to Mexico in 2013 – but that’s not expected this time.

The issue of future support is sure to be a big factor in any talks between Martin and Hudson.

‘‘We’ve got a competitive team now, a team that is building in the right direction, and it needs to stay together, it needs to be resourced and prepared properly,’’ said Hudson.

‘‘It needs games, and it needs support – not just financially – it needs to be really embraced ...

‘‘To jump on four flights for such an important game [the away leg of the playoff in Lima], I think it’s a credit to the players that they reacted the way they did, and that’s why this team needs serious support now, because it can do something if it has that.’’