The head of New Zealand Football says he doesn't believe All Whites coach Anthony Hudson was blaming the national body over of a lack of matches for the national side but simply venting his frustrations.
Hudson this week bemoaned the fact that New Zealand Football has been unable to arrange matches for his side in the March international window, with qualifying for the 2018 World Cup on the horizon.
All Whites coach Anthony Hudson hasn't been critical of New Zealand Football but simply venting his frustrations, says CEO Andy Martin. Photo: Photosport
The chief executive of New Zealand Football Andy Martin said Hudson is well aware of the financial and geographical restrictions faced in arranging fixtures and having spoken to him doesn't believe it was his intention to critcise the national body.
"I'm very confident that was not his intention... he's frustrated because he wants his players to buy into his programme and what he's doing for them and he wants a programme for them to commit to, which means more games which is what we are all trying to achieve," said Martin.
NZ Football CEO Andy Martin Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"We'd love to play games in every international window. The reality is New Zealand Football is not resourced to play games in every window. We've known that for sometime, it's nothing new," he said.
"For March I was hoping we would have something lined up well before now but we've had a couple of things slip through the net."
Martin's still hopeful matches can be arranged for the All Whites in March so long as it's at the right price.
"An example would be we were offered games in Europe in March at neutral venues (and costing) half a million dollars. Now anyone would look at our budgets would understand that is well beyond our means.
-RNZ
