Have the Wellington Phoenix netted a big fish?



Manchester United legend Steve Coppell is the latest person to be linked with the advertised coaching role, though football insiders last night were saying he was only one of many names doing the rounds.



Coppell, aged 57, is the current director of football at English League One club Crawley Town.



He has a bulging CV, both as a player and a coach. He played 332 games for Manchester United and 42 for England, primarily as a right winger and was noted for his speed and work rate. His coaching career includes four stints with Crystal Palace, one lengthy spell with Reading and six weeks with Manchester City in 1996.



It has been reported senior officials from the Wellington club were in England in mid-April, completing a second round of interviews with candidates who made the final shortlist.



A former Manchester United player was linked to the role back then and can now be revealed as Coppell. The other significant name to come out is former Queen's Park Rangers player Glenn Roeder, who has had coaching spells over the last decade with West Ham, Newcastle United and most recently Norwich City.



Closer to home, a name linked to the role ever since Ricki Herbert departed on February 26 has been former Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick. A Phoenix spokesman said a decision on who the new coach would be could come out as early as this week.