FFA's Phoenix dilemma

By Philip Micallef | 12 August 2009 | 09:31

email this page print this page change font size ARTICLE COMMENTS (30) Football Federation Australia has a delicate job on its hands to solve the Curious Case of Wellington Phoenix.

Comments (30) | Your thoughts?


There is a suspicion that our game’s governing body is not entirely sure what to do with the club from across the Tasman.

As with the seven other original A-League clubs, the Wellington organisation’s licence is up for renewal at the end of the season.

However, more so than the other clubs in the league except for Gold Coast and North Queensland, Wellington would dearly love to know if strong and persistent rumours that they might get the flick are true or just a case of scurrilous mischief-making.

This is the problem the Wellington franchise faces as it tries to consolidate on last season’s creditable sixth place in the A-League.

The FFA’s albeit understandable reluctance to let Phoenix know if they have a future in the A-League is having a detrimental effect on the New Zealanders’ morale.

The club from the Shaky Isles indeed must feel it is on uncertain ground and with two more teams coming into the A-League next season to bring the number of participants to 12, all Phoenix would like to know is if they are going to be one of the dozen in season six.

It is a subject that definitely will be raised when the league clubs’ chief executives get together at the FFA’s Sydney headquarters on August 26-27.

But that is only part of the equation.

Phoenix, who must be the only club in the world that plays not only in another country but also in another FIFA confederation, is a unique case that is fast turning into a hot potato for the FFA.

Several people have questioned the wisdom of having a foreign club take part in our national championship.

Wellington, who came into the league in season three to replace woeful New Zealand Knights, are not the league’s most appealing team in terms of television ratings and crowd figures.

And some critics have been pointing out that it is probably not in our interest to foster the growth of the game in a country that conceivably could be our rival for a place in the World Cup finals.

I am not entirely convinced that Phoenix should be playing in our league either, although in fairness they are doing their best to be more competitive and they certainly have done nothing wrong. But that is not the main issue.

Asian Football Federation president Mohamed Bin Hammam has publicly voiced his strong objection to a New Zealand club playing in Australia.

And with Australia seeking more spots in the lucrative AFC Champions League for our clubs than the present two, the FFA would appear to be keen to appease the suits in Kuala Lumpur. Not to mention those in Auckland who run Oceania football.

But FIFA is not against the concept, especially if Phoenix realise their ambition to technically become an Australian club based in New Zealand rather than a Kiwi team playing in Oz.

On the other hand, since Australia has officially entered the race to stage the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, Oceania will be expected to support Australia when the vote is taken in Zurich next year.

It would be interesting to see if Oceania’s Tahitian president Reynald Temarii, who is a member of the powerful FIFA's 23-member executive committee that decides who holds the World Cup, would still support Australia’s bid if Wellington are booted out of the A-League.

This is indeed a tough one for FFA chief executive Ben Buckley.

http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ffas-phoenix-dilemma-222732

interesting, a hard choice will have to be made, but the FFA are traditionally pretty conservative so i can't see them being kicked out.

If Wellington getting booted out means Canberra gets a team, then I don't give a crap.

RealCanberra23 wrote:If Wellington getting booted out means Canberra gets a team, then I don't give a crap.

Phoenix Licence Fury

EXCLUSIVE: Wellington Phoenix will field a team in either New Zealand or the A-League youth competition next season but the club is becomingly increasingly frustrated at their A-League licence uncertainty.
The club has been accepted into New Zealand's domestic competition next season. However, it's unclear what format the league will take with speculation the NZ FC could be regionalised.

The club will also continue to pursue fielding a team in the NYL and insists its fringe and youth players must get game time. They say the inherent disadvantage to the club's playing roster cannot be allowed for another season.

"Whatever it is, these players need to play," a frustrated Tony Pignata, club CEO, told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"We're bringing people like Costa Barbarouses through but he's hardly had any game time yet he still played well on Sunday and scored. And there's Marco Rojas, Diego, Michael Ferrante... all first team players who can't get into squad.

"We need to push forward in either the A-League youth system or the NZ system. But it's something we're really going to hammer and make sure it happens next season."

The club's NYL potential is exemplified by the young All-Whites under Steve Cain's mentoring who have shone at the U17 World Cup, qualifying from their group stage (unlike Brazil or Holland) to play host nation Nigeria tomorrow in the round of 16.

With New Zealand' national team on the cusp of World Cup qualification with a do-or-die clash with Bahrain in Wellington on November 14, football is on the rise across the ditch and Phoenix continue to press for clarification on their licence to play in the A-League.

The club argues that it's a stable, well-run and well financed club with excellent facilities.

In fact, the club's owner, wealthy businessman Terry Serepisos, is so respected in his home country, he's become the Kiwi version of Donald Trump in New Zealand's The Apprentice TV show.

But with AFC boss Mohamed Bin Hammam stating publicly his disdain for a New Zealand (OFC) domiciled club in an AFC league, the club is still unsure of its future beyond its current licence agreement.

FIFA have made positive comments about the club in the past, as have FFA, but the long-term future of the club remains up in the air.

"We want it sorted out sooner rather than later but these things take time," said Pignata. "We've been told that we're in the league. It's definite for next year but for how long... we have another year on the FIFA ruling."

Pignata says the club is moving ahead despite the uncertainty building a football culture in the Kiwi capital that will stand the test of time.

"We want to be here not only for the next year but the next ten and beyond," he said. "We want to build a club, a culture and we are doing that.

"We're doing a lot of things on and off the pitch right. Our crowds are up 12% and we're signing players. Terry's sat down with the squad and said he's here for the long haul.

"But the question was asked by the players [about the licence] and rightly so."

Pignata continues to be as diplomatic as possible but behind the scenes the club is irate the process is taking so long.

He added: "Just tell us what we need to do and we'll do it."

Meanwhile, Phoenix will look to bounce back after Sunday's 3-1 reversal against Sydney FC at the SFS.

With just one full day back in Wellington (the team flew back on Monday), there is little time to prepare for Wednesday night's clash with Newcastle at Westpac stadium.

But Sunday's goalscorer Costa Barbarouses is confident of defeating the Jets and extending an unbeaten home run of 11 matches.

"We've got a good team, we're combining well and hopefully I can be there to finish off the opportunities we've been creating," said the winger, one of the most electrifying talents to come out of New Zealand in recent years.

"With the double-header I've got extra incentive because I need to be ready to take my chances when Ricki calls on me."

Phoenix have named an unchanged squad for Wednesday's match, though first-choice goalkeeper Mark Paston will undergo a fitness test after being replaced early in the match against Sydney FC following a collision with teammate Ben Sigmund.

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/116012,phoenix-licence-fury.aspx

Their latest success's will ensure that they are in the league in the future for a long time. They will stay.

They deserve to stay they are a good team with good support

I have no doubt the FFA have Canberra down as a backup should the AFC refuse to change their position and punt Wellington out.

Nothing against Wellington (their crowds are up this year too) however they are in the Oceania confederation and no other team anywhere in the world plays in a different confederation to their own except them.

I think the FFA will renew their licence but I have no idea how long for. I think only unless NZ or the OFC join Asia will we see them secured- and there is no way that will happen. I still think the AFC will give in though.

Toby wrote:They deserve to stay they are a good team with good support

I am all for Wellington staying in the comp, but loads of people say that Wellington get great crowds and support. What is the back-up of this statement? Yesterday, for example, they got 4,100. I know it was a mid-week game but that is a poor number any day of the week. Most of their games this year at home, have been on a Sunday arvo. The best time of the weekend for a game yet only pull 6K. I don't see everyone giving accolades to Central Coast when they pull 8K on a Friday night.

mikey_porto wrote:

Toby wrote:They deserve to stay they are a good team with good support

I am all for Wellington staying in the comp, but loads of people say that Wellington get great crowds and support. What is the back-up of this statement? Yesterday, for example, they got 4,100. I know it was a mid-week game but that is a poor number any day of the week. Most of their games this year at home, have been on a Sunday arvo. The best time of the weekend for a game yet only pull 6K. I don't see everyone giving accolades to Central Coast when they pull 8K on a Friday night.

I tend to agree mate. Since when have out expectations for crowds lowered to 7.5K? That is their average this year, and considering they are on the brink of World Cup qualification their should massive crowds for the Phoenix for anticipation. Obviously it just hasn't sunk it yet in New Zealand even though it has in Australia.

Well I have heard that Wellington is one of the best clubs when it comes to reaching out to the community. However I haven't been there yet so I cannot tell from first hand experience. As for results they are a good team and are currently sitting in the top 6. I am not so sure about their longterm future though as being from a different confederation is really unique but I believe their situation is unique... Whether or not big wigs from other parts of the world understand that remains to be seen though.

Regardless, short term or long term I do reckon Canberra is the obvious choice to replace Wellington in the A-League.

Until Canberra is one of the 12 teams in the A-League will not be truly complete!

pete wrote:Regardless, short term or long term I do reckon Canberra is the obvious choice to replace Wellington in the A-League.

Until Canberra is one of the 12 teams in the A-League will not be truly complete!

Agreed.

I am pretty sure if Wellington get given the flick Canberra will come in within a few years to replace them.