After starting the season with high expectations, the Wellington Phoenix's 2012/13 A-League campaign looks set to end on a disappointing note. With Gareth Morgan and his much-maligned Welnix organization now in charge and quite keen to see the Phoenix become the Barcelona of the Southern Hermisphere, change is the word of the day and for the first time ever, Ricki Herbert's job security is in question.
But what other alternatives do the Phoenix have? Here are some managers Gareth Morgan could approach.
Alan Curbishley
The former Charlton Athletic and West Ham United manager has been out of a job since leaving Upton Park in the summer of 2008, plying his trade in commentary. Curbishley's Charlton played a fairly attractive style of football if not quite up there with Barcelona. Curbishley certainly made the most of a squad built on a budget taking the former minnows back into the top flight of English football twice and then establishing them there at the 2nd attempt.
Curbishley's wife is a New Zealander and he would dearly love to get back into football management so a move to the other side of the world could be quite tempting. I have no doubt that Curbishley will make this Phoenix side very successful if he got the job.
Nigel Adkins
Surprisingly dumped by Southampton recently despite the Saints being unbeaten prior to Nicola Cortese summoning Adkins to his office. Cortese didn't think Adkins was a Premier League quality manager but he's still a fine manager to have look after your club by any stretch of the imagination. After all, he guided Southampton from League One and then the Premier League in two seasons.
The only trouble is that Adkins is essentially a teenager when it comes to football management so a move to the A-League would be a bit premature when there are plenty of clubs in England's lower divisions who would love to have Adkins in their dug-out. But if Gareth Morgan came up with a very convincing argument to fly 24 hours to the other side of the world to manage a football team, anything is possible.
Phil Brown
Has been out of a job since he failed to guide Preston away from relegation from the Championship a few seasons ago. But Hull City fans will have good memories of this very egoistical but superb manager. Brown guided the Tigers to the Premier League where in their first season they beat Arsenal and Tottenham away from home and were in the top 3 of the table at one stage.
Phil Brown's Tigers can play an exciting brand of football but his managerial style is quite unorthodox and controversial at times - who can forget that halftime talk he gave to his players when they were 3-0 down at Manchester City. A mercurial choice but could work in Wellington.
Paul Ince
The former Manchester United and Liverpool midfielder's managerial career hasn't quite been as successful as his playing career - he probably took the top job at Blackburn too early in his career after enjoying success at Milton Keynes Dons. He has been out of a job since his second spell at MK.
Could the Phoenix provide a lifeline for the England midfielder - he would be open to adopting Morgan's tika-taka philosophy.
Ricki Herbert
To be honest, we're talking about the other alternatives as if we are playing Football Pro Manager. Given the relative size of the Phoenix and the game in New Zealand, Ricki Herbert is to us what Sir Alex Ferguson is to Manchester United. Herbert by far is still our best manager right now and probably ever. And I think Gareth Morgan bought the Phoenix with plans to have Herbert steering the boat.
Herbert has built the Wellington Phoenix and got them this far. I dare say that he will get them back to where they should be as long as Morgan enables him to use the money to get a decent midfielder to fill the void left by Tim Brown.
This winter will be one to reflect and clear out the deadwood and prepare the side to play the football that Gareth Morgan wants.
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