NZ Football president Deryck Shaw (L) and chief executive Andy Martin (R) face the media following complaints from players directed at coach Andreas Heraf.

Andy Martin has quit as New Zealand Football's chief executive.

Martin told staff of his decision on Friday morning with NZF confirming the news on Friday afternoon, saying he was "retiring" at the end of the month. That is Saturday and Martin is no older than 51.

"It is time to focus on my wife and family and follow my beloved Liverpool FC more intently," he said in a press release, while noting it was time to "hang up his boots".

PHOTOSPORT NZ Football chief executive Andy Martin has resigned.

"I would like to thank the staff of New Zealand Football who have worked tirelessly over the past four years to deliver some outstanding achievements, under sometimes trying circumstances. Football in New Zealand is in good health because of them and they remain undeterred to do a good job for the sport they love."

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Martin has been under pressure for his handling of the complaints around Football Ferns coach Andreas Heraf.

PHOTOSPORT Football Ferns' coach Andreas Heraf has been placed on "special leave" while a review of the team's environment takes place.

Heraf was the subject of letters of complaint from 13 of his players on June 18. NZF announced last week an independent investigator would review the Ferns environment, with Heraf placed on "special leave" as both Ferns coach and NZF technical director.

The investigator was yet to be appointed and it appears as though Martin has fallen on his sword ahead of that review taking place.

Questions around Martin's handling of the Ferns issue came about when he took four days to front to media following Heraf's controversial comments in the wake of the Ferns' 1-0 loss to Japan on June 10.

When he did front, he said there were no major concerns in the Ferns camp.

Then the letters of complaint landed, some of which pointed back to issues at a camp in Spain in March.

Martin said in a media conference he had no cause for concern until the letters arrived.

"Hindsight's a wonderful thing, but my judgment over that period of time I believe was right," he said.

"We were looking at changes, we were looking at people who were uncomfortable with change, we were looking at some people who were very comfortable with change, and until we got the collective message, very firmly through [the PFA], that was factual, we've not been able to react. Now we've done something positive."

Martin's departure would make it very difficult for Heraf to continue at NZF, given Martin was the one who hired him.

It would also call into question Heraf's hires in his capacity as technical director, most notably All Whites coach Fritz Schmid.

NZF president Deryck Shaw thanked Martin for his work at NZF since he began as chief executive in February 2014.

Martin oversaw some notable administrative bungles in time, including the eligibility saga which saw New Zealand's men's team miss out on a spot at the 2016 Rio OIympics and the failure of his staff to put through the Wellington Phoenix's loan move for Alex Jones in February 2016.

Martin has been approached for further comment on the reasons for his departure.