Wellington Phoenix yesterday announced Herbert would be staying on as coach until the end of the 2012/13 A-League season allowing the focus to shift to completing the club's roster by August 1.

Under A-League rules Phoenix must have 20 players on the books by that date and so far the Wellington side remains three short of that target.

Contracts have already been offered and, while unable to give details of just who these players are because they are with other clubs and Phoenix are trying to negotiate the breakout clauses in their contracts, Herbert did reveal one was a current All White.

"One is a South American. One is coming out of Asia. One's Australian and there is a possibility that one is a New Zealand player," Herbert said.

That New Zealand player was not, however, Simon Elliott.

"Not for any other reason than I think Simon's intentions are to stay abroad," Herbert added. "Rest assured those four players are key and those four players would arguably be in the starting XI.

"Hopefully you can see the intentions of the club and where we'd like to take it."

Chairman and owner Terry Serepisos also revealed he was in no hurry to appoint a permanent replacement for Tony Pignata, who quit his chief executive post to return to his family in Australia a couple of months ago.

Instead Nathan Greenham, who was one of Serepisos's right-hand men in the TV series The Apprentice, will continue in the role of interim chief executive for the foreseeable future.

"I'm giving Nathan a shot to trial out and see how he works out because he's been at the club since day dot," Serepisos said.

"He's doing a pretty good job. I'm yet to see, when the season starts, how it all pans out. I've had 20 CVs over my table applying for the job.

"I'll give Nathan a shot and so far he's worked out really well and I'm happy where we are at."

Phoenix, who won their opening pre-season game against Brisbane Roar 2-1 in Hamilton last Saturday, play their second match away against Adelaide United on Friday before the Boca Juniors come to Wellington for a fixture on July 23.