Wellington Phoenix General Manager David Dome says the club have signed an experienced new coach for the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Season, which will be revealed in early June.
In an open letter to Phoenix members and fans, Dome revealed the coach with a “deep knowledge of European football” had signed a contract and would be announced pending flights and immigration.
“In the interim our new head coach has been talking to our football operations department, assessing our current squad of players and potential new signings from across Australasia and beyond,” Dome says in the letter.
Fans’ Hyundai A-League Team of the Season
“Currently off-contract players have been evaluated by our prospective head coach over previous weeks and any departures come with our best wishes.
“At present, we have 15 players from last season’s squad contracted for the next campaign, with three or four more to be confirmed in coming weeks.”
“With a deep knowledge of European football, experience of developing young talent and a wide network of scouting contacts our prospective head coach is excellently situated to attract quality players to our football club and we look forward to announcing several key signings over the months ahead.”
The Phoenix GM said the club went through an extensive six-week process with coaching applicants before settling on their new man.
Dome also paid tribute to outgoing co-coaches Des Buckingham and Chris Greenacre, who took over mid-season once Ernie Merrick resigned.
Phoenix finished the 2016/17 Season in seventh spot, six points outside the Finals Series places.
