http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/ffa-board-decision-on-wellington-phoenix-licence-application/1pfovwij2xb731kk2y1g2n7n3y

This post released by Football Australia informs readers that the Wellington Phoenix have been DECLINED a 10 year licence. So as it stands this may be the LAST season we will be seeing the Phoenix playing in the A-League.

"The application for a 10-year extension to the license does not meet requirements we see as fundamental to the future growth of the A-League"

There have been a number of arguments about what does the Phoenix bring to the A-League



1. We are a well-managed, stable club that hasn’t required FFA help to stay afloat.

2. We have a whole country that TV and sponsors can market too. (Note: The TV deal was not done by the Phoenix and was actually agreed to by FFA who signed the deal)

3. Why does a new team have to be at the expense of the Phoenix? Better TV deals and crowd numbers would happen with more teams instead of replacing a team.



4. The Phoenix do provide pathways for Australian Footballers, sure it helps NZ football but is that a bad thing also? We have given many Australian players a chance to play or continue to play professional football. Players like: Burns, Powell, Italiano, Gamiero, Griffiths, Brindall-South, Caira, Ahmed Elrich, Reddy, MacAllister, Vukovic, Crowther, Jimmy Downey, McKain, Hearfield and more. This is more than a third of all the players the Phoenix have had.

How does getting rid of a team that can provide all this not "Meet Requirements we see as Fundamental to the future growth of the A-League" ??

I'd like to think that we deserve to keep our place in the league. Who agrees?

If you do, here is a huge way YOU can make a difference. We need to show the FFA that we mean business. One way we can do this is getting crowd numbers out - so if you can buy a ticket to the next home game (13th of November, VS Adelaide United) That sends out a message. EVERY PERSON MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

http://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/Show.aspx?sh=PHOENIXC16

Thanks for reading, and thanks for helping support #SaveTheNix