Wellington Phoenix head coach Paul Temple has finalised his new-look staff for the 2023-24 Liberty A-League.
As previously announced Callum Holmes has returned for a second season as the women’s assistant coach. The rest of Temple’s management team are new appointments.
Nick Stanton has come aboard as the women’s goalkeeper coach, replacing Ryan Ego.
Stanton has also been appointed the head of goalkeeping at the academy, having held a similar role across town at Olé Football Academy.
Kieran McMinn has replaced Daniel Gordon as the team’s strength and conditioning coach for the 2023-24 season.
McMinn is well-known within the club, having worked at the academy in S&C roles since 2021.
Mei Morton has succeeded Suzy Falconer as the women’s head physiotherapist.
Morton has recently worked in the U.S.A., where she was the physio for the Seattle Sounders’ reserves team.
Jamie Hassett will provide support for Morton as the team’s rehab physiotherapist; a role he also has with the men.
Capital Football stalwart Wendy Turton has been appointed team operations and equipment manager, replacing Eilish Graves and Brooklyn Innes.
Turton will receive significant support from Jake Piper, who is the football operations manager for both the men’s and women’s programmes.
Tyron Curtis completes the women’s backroom staff.
Curtis has come onboard as the team’s analyst, having previously served as an intern for the Phoenix men.
“I’m really excited to have this new-look staff as well as a new-look team,” Paul Temple said. “It gives us a fresh energy going into the season.
“I’ve worked with Callum, Kieran and Jamie previously at the academy, while Nick, Mei, Wendy and Tyron all have experience working in football in New Zealand and come highly regarded.
“I’m really happy with where we’ve got to with the playing squad to date and I’m really happy with the staff as well.
“We’ve got a good team of people which we need if we’re going to be a better team on the pitch.”
The structure of Temple’s management team is “slightly different” to the past two seasons.
“It’s another step towards our collaborative approach between A-League men, A-League women and academy.
“Nick is going to be working across the A-League and academy and Jake is going to be working across A-League men and women, just like Jamie.
“We’ve got these really nice collaborative working situations happening now where it’s all one club as opposed to each team in their own individual silos.”
The Wellington Phoenix women’s staff officially start tomorrow (Friday, September 1) before the players assemble for pre-season training next week.
Wellington Phoenix women’s staff 2023-24
Head coach – Paul Temple
Assistant coach – Callum Holmes
Goalkeeper coach – Nick Stanton
Strength and conditioning coach – Kieran McMinn
Head physiotherapist – Mei Morton
Rehab physiotherapist – Jamie Hassett
Team operations & equipment manager – Wendy Turton
Team analyst – Tyron Curtis
