The decision follows protracted negotiations between the FFA and Phoenix owners Welnix, with the latter party pushing for a more stable 10-year arrangement.
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The club’s request for a 10-year A-League licence was declined by the Football Federation of Australia, who instead offered the option of requesting a four-year licence until the end of the 2019/20 season.
“I would fight for my club, if only four years is on the table, I would take that and say that we’re going to show you just what we can offer”.
The Phoenix moved quickly to dismiss any talk of being dropped, with general manager David Dome saying they had been told they were still in the A-League’s plans but admitted there was no timeline on the “fluid situation”. “If you’re not an Australian club you’re deemed not important enough to be in the league”, he said.
“If I was a player that would be my message to the rest of the boys and I don’t want to talk for Dura (Phoenix captain Andrew Durante), but I know he thinks a similar way to me and will say ‘let this galvanise you boys, if this is our last season then let’s go and win it”.
“I just hope the Wellington Phoenix survive, I’m a very big supporter of them”.
“The club will be seeking greater clarity around the reasons for rejection of the proposal and how the FFA is evaluating the Phoenix’s contribution to game development, player pathway, commercial factors, broadcast rights and the long-term success of the Hyundai A-League, to which the Phoenix is already making a material and positive contribution”, the statement read.
The club is waiting on the Welnix ownership group to meet later this week, before a decision is made on the club’s immediate future.
If Wellington were to leave, it would present an opportunity for a 10th Australian team to enter the league as a replacement and fuels reports of a potential new franchise in southern Sydney.
The Fury spent two seasons in the A-League, bailed out by the FFA before folding after 2010-11, while Gold Coast lasted a season longer before its licence was terminated.
However Wollongong Wolves are believed to be keen to bid, while ACT Football has consistently lobbied for a Canberra team to join the competition.
“Do we need another one?”
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“We have consistently stated that the Phoenix form a key part of the football development pathway in this country and play a major role in supporting our global teams. A fifth will maybe make one too many”.
