Football coach Bev Priestman will take charge of the Wellington Phoenix women’s team for the next two A-League seasons.
The announcement comes as the English national’s one-year ban from any football-related activity concludes following her role in Canada’s drone use at last year’s Paris Olympics.
Wellington Phoenix Director of Football Shaun Gill joined Piney to discuss.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Football's Worst Kept Secrets. Confirmed on Wednesday, Bev Priestman will
take charge of the Wellington Phoenix women's team for the
next two A League football seasons. The announcement came as
her one year ban from any football related activity ended
that following her role in Canada's drone use at last
year's Paris Olympics, where they were caught spying on a
(00:33):
football ferns training session. Bev Priestman comes though with extensive
top flight experience. She led the Canadian team to Olympic
gold in twenty twenty one. She was assistant coach when
they got bronze and rio in twenty sixteen. She was
England's assistant coach when they made the semifinals at the
twenty nineteen FIFA Women's World Cup, and she's twice been
(00:56):
shortlisted for the FIFA's award for Best Women's Coach. Without
doubt one of the most credentialed coaches in women's A
League history. Also this week, football firm C J Bott
was confirmed as the Phoenix woman's latest signing. More from
her in a moment but I spoke after the announcement
of Bev Priestman's appointment with Wellington Phoenix Director of Football
(01:20):
Sean Gill, and I asked, first of all, how pleased
he was to secure a coach of Bev Priestman's pedigree.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, look, we're absolutely thrilled.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
If you'd said to me six months ago, Bev Prictman
vocaching the one to Phoenix, I would have told you're
an idiot. And it's incredible how it's all sort of
worked out. I mean, obviously Emma was appointed as the
academy director, and you know, over time it sort of
became apparent that it might become an option, and you know,
once we sort of sat and we had a couple
(01:52):
of coffees and you get to sort of understand where
she was at. You know, obviously it's not just about
the football at the moment too. There's a lot of
stuff with the family and everything like that, so you know,
it just sort of became more and more reality. And
to have a coach of her international experience A at
the Wallingston Phoenix and B in the league is great,
you know, and it's also great for the women's game
(02:13):
here in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Now that she is on board or you know what
been it's obviously been confirmed for a little while announced
during the week. What have you seen from her?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Has she has?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
She been what you expected in terms of how she's
preparing for her first campaign as the women's coach.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Look, even in the early conversations, you know what really
came through is a is a really thoughtful coach. You know,
obviously really high experience, an energy, and a passion and
a professionalism, but also that winning mentality and that winning
sort of desire came through really strong. And you know
we've seen that over the last couple of days with
(02:49):
her in the office, and yeah, just really thrilled that
we're going to have someone leading the program.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
And today you've unveiled c J Bider fifty football furnace,
the latest acquisition. It's an impressive roster that's being built.
How optimistic do you feel about the women's program at
the moment?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yeah, we're really excited.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
You know, obviously there is a level of pressure that's
going to go on that program. You know, the investment
that the owners have put into it, you know, the facilities, obviously,
the squad. A coach like that you don't do all
that to want to be outside the top six or
even go higher. So you know there is a high
expectation on that program. But we think we're bringing a
(03:29):
color of player and obviously a color of coach that
can cope with that pressure and hopefully going to deliver
something that hasn't been done here at the club before.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Is there some demonstrate to shift and focus away from
the men to the women at the Phoenix, No, I.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Don't think it's a shift away from the men. I
think what we're seeing now is the evolution of the
football club. You know, we've had the Aly women's program
in place for this will be the fifth season. You know,
first couple of seasons was in conjunction of New Zealm
Football obviously, and the last couple of seasons we've taken
it over. We've introduced visa players and you sort of
I guess as a club we just try it. We're
(04:02):
not trying. We had to get to grips with what
it meant to have an Alien women's program. You know,
we talk to have an Ali women's program. So yeah,
it's definitely not a one or the other. You know,
the club is so big now compared to it. I
started here and we had one men's team in a
football school of excellence. You know, we've now got the
only women's program, the only men's program, and eight teams
in the academy, three girls teams, five boys teams.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
So every part of that is critical to the football club.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
And you know, there's just as much the expectation on
the ALLY men's program to get top six this year
as there is on the woman's to get top six.
So yeah, definitely not one or the other. But I
think what we are seeing is is, rather than just
going spending money on the ALI men's program, put that
investment into the ALI women's program and try.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
And bring that up to that level.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
So still one import spot I think available in the
women and I think one and the men as well.
You're keen to fill those two spots.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Yeah, one d per well, definitely, we're We're in discussions
at the moment with a woman's visa and things are
looking reasonably positive there, but it relies on a on
a couple of other things to happen in a chain,
so you know that could drop, hopefully in the next
couple of days, which would be really excited about and
we'll really sort of finish off the one part of
(05:18):
the football pitch for the early woman and in the
mean space we will definitely utilize that. It has been
a wrestle at the moment to sort of figure out
what's the best use of that last visa spot. You know,
there's obviously the defense that we need to bring some
experience into and some quality into, but there's also another
attacking option we need to look at. So you know,
(05:40):
we're taking our time to find the right balance for that,
and that really is dictated by what's the quality of
the local market and where that's best suited. And then
you know, whatever you get there will then dictate where
you use the visa.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
So yeah, so basically, yeah, yeah, if you're sign an
overseas defender, you're looking for a local attacker and vice versa. Yeah,
without wanting to find out which way you're going to go,
do you feel like there is the local cover in
both positions depending on which way you do go with the.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Import look, I think at the moment, it's probably safe
to say there are probably better options in the in
the attacking space than there are in the center back space.
At the moment, the local center back market is pretty dry.
We had a couple of leads we thought we might
get close on one. Again, those were all part of
a chain of events that needed to happen, which didn't
(06:31):
happen before a particular window shut around the world.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
So I think it's.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Looking more and more like you know, the Visa go
center back and bring some attacking options and to go
around some quality that we have here. You know, you've
still got Luke brook Smith who's showing some good signs
gap both had actually games the other night. I thought
head was very very good the other night. Arrives into
Oton on Sunday. You know, hopefully we get him on
the pitch for the next Cup game, and you know
(06:55):
there is there is some quality there. Carlo almi Into
again another one you know, can play as the ten.
It's probably been brought more in for it as a
wing back, but can play in that ten spot. So
right now it's probably makes more and some more pragmatic
to look at the center backers of Visa.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
And a good couple of weeks for the men's team too,
went over Wrexham in front of a big crowd at
sky Stadium. You go to Perth and win eight to
seven on penalties over there to advance in the Australia Cup.
So is there a a bit of confidence, bit of
momentum building in the men's side right now.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, it's you know, there was obviously a lot that
went on last season and a lot of discussion and
debate at the end of it. You know, there's a
lot of pressure has come on the on the ailing
men's side and I think it's really pleasing to see,
you know, obviously get a fantastic result against Rexham. You know,
the first half team that were mainly aided to at
least a clean sheet and really competitive, so that was
(07:45):
good to see. Yeah, excellent for the Academy boys to
come on and actually turn it into a result, which
is really pleasing. And then you know the trip to
Perth is always a tough one and to do that
with you know, largely Academy graduates plus our three visa
players and Pola coming back in was phenomenal And I
thought the character of the boys to their early in
(08:07):
the preseason, beyond a plane to Perth to play one
hundred and twenty minutes, you know, have the weather conditions
that there were a stop in the game and then
to step up and finish it off and pens with
some very good pens from some very young players was
really pleasing.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
So there's some good signs.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
You know, none of us want to get carried away
too early because it is early doors, it is preseason,
but you know, the signs are positive that this group
has something about them. They've come in, they're working hard.
You know, we still have Roofs and pay need to
bring back into the mix as well. You know, Corbyn
Pipe is still all return as well. So you know,
it is pleasing to see that we're getting those results
so far with a younger group and the visa players
(08:46):
from last year, and you know, now as we bring
more back into it, you know, hopefully we can push on.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Just back to Bev, there was always going to be
a bit of noise around her appointment, given her twelve
month ban and the circumstances behind it. Did you have
to factor that in when you made the decision to
hire her.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Not really, I mean it was.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Just good of opportunity not to not to look at right,
you know, we definitely we definitely spoke with her about
what we would have gone on, and she obviously gave
her a side of what went on and you know
you hear other things as well, and as Rob alludes to,
you know, we're completely comfortable with who she is and
who she was. People make mistakes, you know, we've had
other people make mistakes within the club. It was only
(09:27):
a few years back we had the incident through COVID
with Payney and Olie Sail, you know, and those guys
we showed faith in them and you know they did
their their penance for what they've done and you know
they've both kicked on to be excellent players in the
A League. So everyone deserves the chance. And you know
Beev's character as such that you know she's not a
(09:48):
repeat offender.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
You know she's a good person, she's a good character.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
She's a phenomenal football coach and to have that at
the club as a no brainer.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
That is Sean gil, director of football at Wellington Phoenix,
talking about the recruitment of Bev Priestman as women's coach
and some other football matters too.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talk it Be weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Football's Worst Kept Secrets. Confirmed on Wednesday, Bev Priestman will
take charge of the Wellington Phoenix women's team for the
next two A League football seasons. The announcement came as
her one year ban from any football related activity ended
that following her role in Canada's drone use at last
year's Paris Olympics, where they were caught spying on a
(00:33):
football ferns training session. Bev Priestman comes though with extensive
top flight experience. She led the Canadian team to Olympic
gold in twenty twenty one. She was assistant coach when
they got bronze and rio in twenty sixteen. She was
England's assistant coach when they made the semifinals at the
twenty nineteen FIFA Women's World Cup, and she's twice been
(00:56):
shortlisted for the FIFA's award for Best Women's Coach. Without
doubt one of the most credentialed coaches in women's A
League history. Also this week, football firm C J Bott
was confirmed as the Phoenix woman's latest signing. More from
her in a moment but I spoke after the announcement
of Bev Priestman's appointment with Wellington Phoenix Director of Football
(01:20):
Sean Gill, and I asked, first of all, how pleased
he was to secure a coach of Bev Priestman's pedigree.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Yeah, look, we're absolutely thrilled.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
If you'd said to me six months ago, Bev Prictman
vocaching the one to Phoenix, I would have told you're
an idiot. And it's incredible how it's all sort of
worked out. I mean, obviously Emma was appointed as the
academy director, and you know, over time it sort of
became apparent that it might become an option, and you know,
once we sort of sat and we had a couple
(01:52):
of coffees and you get to sort of understand where
she was at. You know, obviously it's not just about
the football at the moment too. There's a lot of
stuff with the family and everything like that, so you know,
it just sort of became more and more reality. And
to have a coach of her international experience A at
the Wallingston Phoenix and B in the league is great,
you know, and it's also great for the women's game
(02:13):
here in New Zealand.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Now that she is on board or you know what
been it's obviously been confirmed for a little while announced
during the week. What have you seen from her?
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Has she has?
Speaker 2 (02:22):
She been what you expected in terms of how she's
preparing for her first campaign as the women's coach.
Speaker 3 (02:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Look, even in the early conversations, you know what really
came through is a is a really thoughtful coach. You know,
obviously really high experience, an energy, and a passion and
a professionalism, but also that winning mentality and that winning
sort of desire came through really strong. And you know
we've seen that over the last couple of days with
(02:49):
her in the office, and yeah, just really thrilled that
we're going to have someone leading the program.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
And today you've unveiled c J Bider fifty football furnace,
the latest acquisition. It's an impressive roster that's being built.
How optimistic do you feel about the women's program at
the moment?
Speaker 3 (03:05):
Yeah, we're really excited.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
You know, obviously there is a level of pressure that's
going to go on that program. You know, the investment
that the owners have put into it, you know, the facilities, obviously,
the squad. A coach like that you don't do all
that to want to be outside the top six or
even go higher. So you know there is a high
expectation on that program. But we think we're bringing a
(03:29):
color of player and obviously a color of coach that
can cope with that pressure and hopefully going to deliver
something that hasn't been done here at the club before.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Is there some demonstrate to shift and focus away from
the men to the women at the Phoenix, No, I.
Speaker 4 (03:42):
Don't think it's a shift away from the men. I
think what we're seeing now is the evolution of the
football club. You know, we've had the Aly women's program
in place for this will be the fifth season. You know,
first couple of seasons was in conjunction of New Zealm
Football obviously, and the last couple of seasons we've taken
it over. We've introduced visa players and you sort of
I guess as a club we just try it. We're
(04:02):
not trying. We had to get to grips with what
it meant to have an Alien women's program. You know,
we talk to have an Ali women's program. So yeah,
it's definitely not a one or the other. You know,
the club is so big now compared to it. I
started here and we had one men's team in a
football school of excellence. You know, we've now got the
only women's program, the only men's program, and eight teams
in the academy, three girls teams, five boys teams.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
So every part of that is critical to the football club.
Speaker 4 (04:28):
And you know, there's just as much the expectation on
the ALLY men's program to get top six this year
as there is on the woman's to get top six.
So yeah, definitely not one or the other. But I
think what we are seeing is is, rather than just
going spending money on the ALI men's program, put that
investment into the ALI women's program and try.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
And bring that up to that level.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
So still one import spot I think available in the
women and I think one and the men as well.
You're keen to fill those two spots.
Speaker 4 (04:54):
Yeah, one d per well, definitely, we're We're in discussions
at the moment with a woman's visa and things are
looking reasonably positive there, but it relies on a on
a couple of other things to happen in a chain,
so you know that could drop, hopefully in the next
couple of days, which would be really excited about and
we'll really sort of finish off the one part of
(05:18):
the football pitch for the early woman and in the
mean space we will definitely utilize that. It has been
a wrestle at the moment to sort of figure out
what's the best use of that last visa spot. You know,
there's obviously the defense that we need to bring some
experience into and some quality into, but there's also another
attacking option we need to look at. So you know,
(05:40):
we're taking our time to find the right balance for that,
and that really is dictated by what's the quality of
the local market and where that's best suited. And then
you know, whatever you get there will then dictate where
you use the visa.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
So yeah, so basically, yeah, yeah, if you're sign an
overseas defender, you're looking for a local attacker and vice versa. Yeah,
without wanting to find out which way you're going to go,
do you feel like there is the local cover in
both positions depending on which way you do go with the.
Speaker 4 (06:10):
Import look, I think at the moment, it's probably safe
to say there are probably better options in the in
the attacking space than there are in the center back space.
At the moment, the local center back market is pretty dry.
We had a couple of leads we thought we might
get close on one. Again, those were all part of
a chain of events that needed to happen, which didn't
(06:31):
happen before a particular window shut around the world.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
So I think it's.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Looking more and more like you know, the Visa go
center back and bring some attacking options and to go
around some quality that we have here. You know, you've
still got Luke brook Smith who's showing some good signs
gap both had actually games the other night. I thought
head was very very good the other night. Arrives into
Oton on Sunday. You know, hopefully we get him on
the pitch for the next Cup game, and you know
(06:55):
there is there is some quality there. Carlo almi Into
again another one you know, can play as the ten.
It's probably been brought more in for it as a
wing back, but can play in that ten spot. So
right now it's probably makes more and some more pragmatic
to look at the center backers of Visa.
Speaker 2 (07:09):
And a good couple of weeks for the men's team too,
went over Wrexham in front of a big crowd at
sky Stadium. You go to Perth and win eight to
seven on penalties over there to advance in the Australia Cup.
So is there a a bit of confidence, bit of
momentum building in the men's side right now.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Yeah, it's you know, there was obviously a lot that
went on last season and a lot of discussion and
debate at the end of it. You know, there's a
lot of pressure has come on the on the ailing
men's side and I think it's really pleasing to see,
you know, obviously get a fantastic result against Rexham. You know,
the first half team that were mainly aided to at
least a clean sheet and really competitive, so that was
(07:45):
good to see. Yeah, excellent for the Academy boys to
come on and actually turn it into a result, which
is really pleasing. And then you know the trip to
Perth is always a tough one and to do that
with you know, largely Academy graduates plus our three visa
players and Pola coming back in was phenomenal And I
thought the character of the boys to their early in
(08:07):
the preseason, beyond a plane to Perth to play one
hundred and twenty minutes, you know, have the weather conditions
that there were a stop in the game and then
to step up and finish it off and pens with
some very good pens from some very young players was
really pleasing.
Speaker 3 (08:21):
So there's some good signs.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
You know, none of us want to get carried away
too early because it is early doors, it is preseason,
but you know, the signs are positive that this group
has something about them. They've come in, they're working hard.
You know, we still have Roofs and pay need to
bring back into the mix as well. You know, Corbyn
Pipe is still all return as well. So you know,
it is pleasing to see that we're getting those results
so far with a younger group and the visa players
(08:46):
from last year, and you know, now as we bring
more back into it, you know, hopefully we can push on.
Speaker 2 (08:51):
Just back to Bev, there was always going to be
a bit of noise around her appointment, given her twelve
month ban and the circumstances behind it. Did you have
to factor that in when you made the decision to
hire her.
Speaker 3 (09:02):
Not really, I mean it was.
Speaker 4 (09:06):
Just good of opportunity not to not to look at right,
you know, we definitely we definitely spoke with her about
what we would have gone on, and she obviously gave
her a side of what went on and you know
you hear other things as well, and as Rob alludes to,
you know, we're completely comfortable with who she is and
who she was. People make mistakes, you know, we've had
other people make mistakes within the club. It was only
(09:27):
a few years back we had the incident through COVID
with Payney and Olie Sail, you know, and those guys
we showed faith in them and you know they did
their their penance for what they've done and you know
they've both kicked on to be excellent players in the
A League. So everyone deserves the chance. And you know
Beev's character as such that you know she's not a
(09:48):
repeat offender.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
You know she's a good person, she's a good character.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
She's a phenomenal football coach and to have that at
the club as a no brainer.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
That is Sean gil, director of football at Wellington Phoenix,
talking about the recruitment of Bev Priestman as women's coach
and some other football matters too.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news Talk it Be weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.