After the Phoenix’s 4-0 loss to Sydney FC, former A-League coach John Kosmina said, “I think it’s time to say goodbye to Wellington.”
There has been talk for a long time of Wellington leaving the league and it could happen soon.
Their license expires at the end of the 2019-20 season, with an extension to be awarded if they have good results, consistently attract crowds and contribute to the A-League.
This is fair, as what’s the point of having a club that gets poor results and small crowds?
But why don’t we hold the Australian clubs to the same standard? Wellington aren’t the only side to have struggled in recent years.
The Phoenix finished ninth twice in the past four seasons and after 18 matches they languish in bottom place this campagin. Last year, they missed out on the finals, finishing seventh, and have made a solitary finals appearance, in 2014-15.
But what about the Newcastle Jets? They are enjoying a wonderful season, with new manager Ernie Merrick having recruited well, taking the Jets to new heights. However, they haven’t made the finals since 2009-10.
Newcastle have won the wooden spoon twice in the past three seasons and they finished seventh and eighth in the 2013-14 and 2015-16 seasons respectively.
Their results have been worse than Wellington’s in the past half decade but, other than the FFA stripping Nathan Tinkler of the license in 2015, no one has ever said the Jets should disband.
Then there’s the Central Coast Mariners, who finished eighth twice in the past three seasons, bottom in 2015-16, and currently sit in ninth place.
The season they won the wooden spoon was statically the worst team performance in A-League history. They haven’t made the finals since 2013-14 and look set to finish in the bottom three for the fourth consecutive season.
But no one says the Mariners should disband.
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Wellington have also been stable in regards to keeping managers. Merrick was at the helm for three years, although Des Buckingham and Chris Greenacre tag-teamed to finish the 2016-17 season, before Darije Kalezic took over at the beginning of this season.
The Mariners lost Graham Arnold at the beginning of the 2013-14 season. His replacement, Phil Moss, was sacked in 2014-15. Tony Walmsley replaced Moss and was sacked prior to the 2016-17 season, replaced by Paul Okon.
The Jets have been the worst at this, giving a manager a contract then sacking them at the end of their first season. Clayton Zane was only an interim but if you count him, Newcastle have had six managers since 2013-14: Gary van Egmond, Zane, Phil Stubbins, Scott Miller, Mark Jones and now Merrick.
Another argument Kosmina made about why Wellington should be disbanded was their crowds.
Of course he has a point here. The last time the Phoenix had more than 10,000 fans attend a match was Round 1 of the 2016-17 season, and they haven’t topped the 18,056 fans that rocked up to their match against Adelaide United at Eden Park in 2014.
But the Mariners aren’t doing much better. Apart from their Round 1 clash against Newcastle this season, they haven’t had a crowd over 10,000 in nine home matches. Similar to the Phoenix, they have had a bunch of 10-13,000 crowds but haven’t topped the 17,134 fans that attended their match against Western Sydney in October 2013.
As for Newcastle, despite their struggles on the field, their fans have consistently supported them, usually attracting over 10,000 fans per match, although they haven’t topped the 16,634 at the match against Western Sydney in December 2013.
AAP Image/Darren Pateman
To top it off, it’s worth noting that Newcastle and the Mariners have used a heck of a lot more players than Wellington. In the past five seasons, the Jets have used 79 players, the Mariners 73, while the Nix have had 58.
So why do we always hear about the possibility of Wellington being evicted from the A-League and not Newcastle or the Central Coast?
Obviously Newcastle bring in crowds and have turned their fortunes around this season, but the Mariners consistently finish in low positions and have done so playing in front of poor crowds.
Sure the Mariners and Jets are Australian clubs, but if the Nix are on the chopping block, surely it’s worth taking a look at the other clubs.
lesterlike
Guest
That'd be fine if this wasn't a stale closed league and clubs could actually justify their presence in the top flight on merit.
AR
Guest
“I would rather watch my team playing semi-professional football with Promotion & Relegation than continue watching this contrived closed 10 team competition that rewards mediocrity.” Some honesty...yay! Let’s keep this going...how long are you willing to wait for P&R? What’s your prediction? Or will you just continue to watch a contrived closed 10 team competition that rewards mediocrity?
Worried
Guest
I'm sorry but all this talk of crowds has me confused! I thought the A-League was a FOOTBALL competition not a crowd drawing competition! The size of a crowd is NOT an accurate indication of the Quality of the Football, look at Man United! The A-League should not be judged by Crowd numbers or Television ratings. I can understand club accountants focus on figures, but by the fans, it should ONLY be judged by the standard of its football.
Leonard
Guest
Thanks - have seen such scorelines in season rosters (with a '0-0'), match reports and statistical lists, so what about something like ‘Phoenix’s 0-4 Sydney FC loss’ / ‘in Phoenix’s 0-4 Sydney FC loss’ / ‘because of Phoenix’s 0-4 Sydney FC loss’? They are actually more concise - and that's something most journos would value. However, I'd reckon my general suggestion still makes logical sense.
Nemesis
Guest
No. The score in football is written with the home team first & away team 2nd. If you write Phoenix lost 0-4 to Sydney FC, it would mean NIX played at home and the score was 0-4.
Leonard
Guest
Shouldn't "Phoenix’s 4-0 loss to Sydney FC" be 'Phoenix’s 0-4 loss to Sydney FC'? Shouldn't all such sentences where the losers are the subject^ be written with the loser's score first (like in a non straight sets tennis match)? ^ some very young journos, particularly from uni 'J-schools', might need to google this term.
Fadida
Guest
Agree totally LH. Without having a pop at SFC, have they produced even one player themselves who has gone on to play for the NT? Or have they just lured away the best other clubs have produced?
Midfielder
Guest
Griffo Yer I do have a soft spot for the Hunter / Newcastle area as thats were my father and grandparents on my fathers lived... so many Football and other stories I will share over time... The sadest thing for me is seeing history repeat itself just when we start to get on top a power thing happens and we finish up in a civil war and tear the game apart ... today reminds me of a number of times in the past when the infighting is causing so much damage and everyone is picking sides ..... My hope is FIFA can be peace to by my count a 63 year war, that started in 1955 ... today is very similar too 1955 in the Football power play between major groups.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Mid, I was referring to the 'Jerks' moniker #banter - I know you have a soft spot but don't speak too loudly of it south of the lake. Mining immigration was a huge contributor to football in the region, which you can still see in places like Weston. You have a great knowledge of the region and pre-association history, don't stop sharing my friend. A bit too young for KB days personally but still legendary. As far removed as you can be between clubs and sides, but a nice touch a few season back on the Jets green kit. Growing up league and soccer wasn't always rosy but not too bad considering.
Rolly
Guest
Population of central coast 300,00 population of Newcastle 322,00.your right their attendances is good for the small population becuase Sydney fc who have a population of five million to draw from would have the worst crowds in the . ALeague .regional towns cannot be expected to draw the same as captial city teams .then again we don't want the A league to be exclusive to capital cities only .we want more regional teams So regional kids can have the same opportunities .wollongong wolves would be a great addition if the Phoenix are going.
AR
Guest
The Nix should be immediatey replaced with the Canberra Metrix. The chant could be: “Metrix! Cha Cha Cha! Metrix Cha Cha Cha!!!”
Paul
Guest
It's a bit hard to look at WSW as an expansion club when the western suburbs and beyond boast the largest football participation of any area in the league. It was purely inevitable.
Kangajets
Guest
Good I think Singapore is a great idea
Kangajets
Guest
Midfielder I was at some of those k b united games as a kid . I love the white brown and green uniforms They also had a yellow black and red strip like a can of k b beer There is no way that the jets or mariners should be kicked out , like you said the hunter media provides great coverage to football and rugby league. There are few places like Wollongong that should be added to the league I’d be happy to see the likes of a few old n s l clubs return to the fold if they had the financial backing
Paul
Guest
To consider 8 of the regular Nix are Australian players , it probably wouldn't be impossible to buy the Nix stock and slot them into a brand new club here.
Midfielder
Guest
Griffo My grand parents on my fathers side, worked in the Hunter Valley in the late 1800's, and after WW! worked in the Paxton pit. The Hunter Valley miners played Football and you had to be brave to call them out... latter on when the Steel Mill arrived the iron workers tended to play league .... league and Football got and get along fine and to the best of my knowledge the only part of Australia where the local media gave Football as much positive media coverage any other sport. great 2 minute clip on Newcastle in 79 .. KB united ... look at the crowds guys ... this is why the Jest are an important team and the writer has no idea of history. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCPIJTS0Dzw
Jeff Williamson
Roar Pro
I would not cut Wellington because they get beaten. If Wellington is to go, it will be because of poor crowds and the fact that they do very little to help Australian football. FFA told Wellington they have to improve in a number of areas, but so far there is no evidence they are doing much about it. On the other hand, Newcastle and Central Coast have contributed a lot to Australian football. We need more Australian clubs in the A-League.
Cool N Cold
Guest
Glory is going to stage A-league matches in Asia. https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2018/01/11/glory-given-green-light-stage-league-match-asia If so, there must be some other reasons to cut Phoenix.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Where should the new teams come from? SFC and WSW only get around 12,000 outside of the derbies so a third Sydney is iffy at best. A second Brisbane side is complex. Stadium fees and construction issues aside many current Roar fans came across from the Strikers so that could have a big impact on Roar if they switch back. Brisbane City on the other hand have few fans as far as I know, so would they have any chance of becoming sustainable? Adelaide United have drawn many fans from Adelaide City and West Adelaide when those teams folded, so where will support for a second team in Adelaide come from? Fremantle v Perth has tradition in the AFL but how much support would Fremantle get for an A-League side? In Melbourne the South East bid has a large population base that makes up about a quarter of the city's population. So even if they attract a turnout at the same rate as Victory then they will only draw crowds of around 5-10,000. South Melbourne like to talk about themselves a lot but when they had a chance during the FFA Cup against SFC they didn't exactly turn out in droves did they? 5,747 is pathetic. All tip no iceberg. There just don't seem to be any more Wanderers size bids out there. If that's the case then it might be better to go regional by adding Wollongong Wolves, Tasmania and bringing in a Canberra United men's team to replace Wellington Phoenix. They might not be large but it will give the big teams in the major cities more time to consolidate and to recover. It'll also help to grow the code nationally.
Lionheart
Guest
thanks Midfielder. CCM are doing more for football than the so called big clubs and don't have to justify their place. We really do have to introduce transfer fees in the A League, so efforts like these are rewarded and sustainable.