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Football Federation have announced that they will not grant the Wellington Phoenix a 10-year renewal on their A-League license.
It puts serious doubt on the continued existence of the club, which has been part of the A-League since the 2007-8 season.
Under the A-League’s system, franchises are required to apply for license extensions. In the Phoenix’s case, they were the only A-League club to not receive a 20-year extension of their license in 2014.
Last year, FFA CEO David Gallop had said that the “ball is in [Wellington’s] court” and that FFA were waiting to hear the club’s “long-term strategy” before handing them a renewed license.
In a statement released today, the FFA said that the club still have the option of applying for a license that extends their stay in the competition until the 2019/20 season.
It would appear, though, that the future for the club beyond that is muddy at best, with David Gallop saying that “The [Phoenix’s] application for a 10-year extension to the licence does not meet the requirements we see as fundamental to the future growth of the A-League.”
The club came fourth in the last season of the A-League.
Tom Smithies from the Daily Telegraph in Sydney has said that the Phoenix’s existence could be extended for four years, but that the rejection of the initial application spells the end of the club’s time in the A-League.
So @WgtnPhoenixFC application for 10-yr licence rejected; been told they can apply for 4years, but heavy inference that nothing beyond that
— Tom Smithies (@SmithiesTele) October 26, 2015
In other words, clock ticking on @WgtnPhoenixFC – even if they decide to ask for 4 more years and get, looks like start of the end game
— Tom Smithies (@SmithiesTele) October 26, 2015
Football Federation Australia have released the following statement on the future of the Wellington Phoenix Football Club.
The Board of Football Federation Australia (FFA) has determined that an application from Wellington Phoenix for a 10-year licence extension to compete in the Hyundai A-League will not be granted.
The current licence term under the Club Participation Agreement (CPA) for Wellington Phoenix expires at the end of the Hyundai A-League 2015/16 season.
Under the CPA, the Club has the option of requesting that FFA lodge an application to the relevant football authorities to seek approval of Phoenix’s participation in the Hyundai A-League until the conclusion of the 2019/20 season.
Such an application is required in order to seek exemptions from various statutes of Football New Zealand, Oceania Football Confederation, Asian Football Confederation and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
FFA CEO David Gallop said the Board decision was taken in the best interests of Australian football.
“FFA has carefully evaluated the role and contribution of the Wellington franchise in terms of game development, player pathway, commercial factors, broadcast rights and the long-term strategic outlook,” said Gallop.
“The application for a 10-year extension to the licence does not meet the requirements we see as fundamental to the future growth of the A-League.”
The Wellington Phoenix have released the following statement in response to the move from the FFA.
Two-sentence statement just issued by @WgtnPhoenixFC re: #aleague licence. What FFA statement they talking about? pic.twitter.com/B2tOAc8BTF
— Vince Rugari (@VinceRugari) October 26, 2015
More to follow…
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