Martin Fronts Up To NZ Football Criticism

CEO Andy Martin believes New Zealand Football still retains the confidence of its community, despite a series of PR disasters.

Martin said he is ultimately accountable for some of the administrative issues they've had and agrees their credibility has taken a big hit.

But Martin said there's been some ill-informed criticism and people closely associated with football know there have been positives.

"They can see things are different, and we've got to minimize as an administration these 'own goals'.

"Trust me, there's a staff out there who are desperately upset by what's happened, because it's detracting from all the great work that's going on."

Andy Martin said the next potential option to secure a home game for the All Whites is in October.

They haven't played on home soil since May 2014, and only had three international fixtures last year.

Martin said with their World Cup qualifying path still uncertain, it's very difficult for them to secure games when they don't know when they'll be available.

"Until we know the World Cup routes and where we finish in the nation's cup, it looks as though October could be a window, and so that's what we're working on right now. But as I said, there's still movement in that process."

He said the All Whites will still be well equipped to play the Oceania Nations Cup despite only having a squad camp, rather than matches, as their build-up.

Radio Sport