It’s time for the quality and pedigree of the A-League’s most decorated head coach, to be translated into success for the Wellington Phoenix.
The influential Scotsman, Ernie Merrick has built a reputation of success in the A-League. The vastly experienced manager has been involved in Australasia’s premier football contest since the league’s inception, starting his A-League career as the foundation head coach for the ambitious Melbourne Victory in the inaugural 2005/06 season. He earned his stripes as the most successful coach when he won four titles in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons.
Merrick’s success with the Victory lead to him become the longest serving foundation manager, until he was sacked in March 2011 following a disappointing A-League season and start to the clubs Asian Champions League campaign.
He couldn’t stay away from the A-League for long however, and in May 2013 Merrick replaced founding coach Ricki Herbert to become the Wellington Phoenix’s second head coach. For the Phoenix and their owners this was a real coup. They returned a proven manager to the league, following his brief hiatus as coach of the Hong Kong national team.
The first two seasons of the Ernie Merrick era at the Wellington Phoenix have shown promise. Since inheriting Herbert’s 10th placed side, Merrick and assistant coach, Chris Greenacre have presided over the past two seasons, a period which have given fans cause for hope. The Nix placed ninth and fourth with lacklustre performances at the end of the 2014/15 season cutting short a promising run and dashing dreams of a maiden championship. The season culminated in a humiliating home elimination at the hands of Melbourne City in the Finals Series – the Phoenix’s season ended with a whimper.
In 2015/16, Merrick begins his third year as Phoenix coach, and this season, he is under huge pressure to perform and ensure his Wellington Phoenix side mount a serious playoff run befitting of his pedigree.
With players like new signing Jeffrey Sarpong, the improving Roy Krishna, the consistent Michael McGlinchey and the talented Roly Bonevacia at his disposal, Merrick has an expansive choice of talented ball-players and attacking weapons with which to launch a serious and sustained title challenge this season. Throw in a whole host of Phoenix youth players eager to impress, as well as the vastly experienced club captain Andrew Durante, co-captain Ben Sigmund, foundation player Vince Lia and fellow club centurion Manny Muscat, and Merrick has a blend of youth and experience. This could be be key for his title ambitions.
With increasing pressure on the club as talks of A-League licence renewal remain on-going, it makes it even more important that the Phoenix take their opportunities this season and demonstrate why they deserve to be a part of the A-League in 2016/17.
This truly has to be the season for Merrick’s merry men. They will need a fast-start to be in a position to mount a serious A-League championship challenge and go all the way to an A-League Grand Final for the first time in the clubs nine year A-League history. Fans now expect Merrick to deliver.
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