Central League

Nix academy players and coaching staff moving away from Wellington Utd in 2019. Next club will be Lower Hutt. 

That's a bit bizarre. Are they going to move training out to the sportsville for the academy? 

Word going round that this is very much a thing. Now unsure the exact deets and what will happen to the best players but it seems that their have been talks...

Hope that cap football won't let fringe age kids play in the reserves team in cap 1

Will the serious player stay in Cap 1 or move to a club where they can progress? Might have a few issues filling teams under the Lower Hutt badge. I hope United got plenty of warning of the change because getting a CL team together over the summer will be tough. It's a shame clubs are finding themselves in such a tough position that this merger is the best option of moving forward. 

Can't imagine the incumbent players will be thrilled if the nix sweep their U17 teams etc in to replace the existing players

Heard there's some spots opening up at another club...

So what happens to WU from here? Leaves them in a pretty dire position. Always thought this was a mistake for WU a club with such history, if it wasn't the academy pulling out it was possibly the Nix folding in the A-League.

rumour has it that stop out could be losing a few senior players to other clubs and retirement.

Would they gain the LH players turfed out of their club due to the weenix moving to the hutt?

A lot of chat at DFark today re WU n LH - former coaches n committee coming back both ways.

Not close enough to get names 

So clubs are swapping?

Totally trashing the history of the #conspiracyderby

Now confirmed. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1914078848645858&id=160854990634928

Wellington United & Wellington Phoenix Update Joint Venture

After four years of a successful partnership between New Zealand's third oldest club, Wellington United, and the country’s only professional club, Wellington Phoenix, the clubs have agreed together to update their joint venture arrangement and refocus their joint resources in the junior and youth space.

The partnership started in 2015 with Wellington United in the Capital Premier Division and has seen the club promoted back into and established in the Central League including finishing third in 2017. The partnership has provided invaluable playing experience and opportunities for aspiring young players, several of whom have gone on to secure professional contracts or university scholarships, as well as gaining international recognition which was one of the core objectives of the relationship.

The Phoenix Academy is growing, and as such they have a requirement for a larger developmental training and playing environment that Wellington United are unfortunately not in a position to provide. To add clarity, Wellington United will most certainly be retaining their Central League spot in 2019.

Whilst the senior joint venture is concluding, the strong relationship between Wellington United and the Phoenix will continue and grow with the two clubs working together in the newly created Wellington United Junior Academy.

Wellington United are looking forward to developing their junior pathway in conjunction with the Phoenix. This framework will provide a comprehensive training programme as a gateway to their senior Men’s club. The outcome of which will complement their currently strong and successful Women’s senior club.

Wellington United wish the Wellington Phoenix all the best with their next chapter, one of which they will of course be following with great interest through their ongoing player developments and future successes.

Please contact us on [email protected] if you have any questions relating to this release.

Anthony Mumby
Chairman
Wellington United AFC

Can’t see this as a good thing for Lower Hutt at all.

More to the point...How are WU going to transition?

I don't really understand how this works. Surely this destroys pathways for two clubs?

I.e where do u17s at lower Hutt progress to?

Where do Well U senior players come up from?

Kaizen into WU, Jacobs already chasing players. LH lost a few end of last season 

So, clubs don't sign players any more, they sign academys...

I imagined the nix take over the WU juniors. Those players would then play for the WU senior side if they don’t sign for the nix. 

Actually thought it was a pretty decent arrangement. The problem is how they transition in the short term, which could be disastrous. 

Or I misinterpreted what it meant. Entirely possible!

Tegal, i was tinking about how you fill your reserves team, typically by promoting u17s upwards? How would that work with different club registrations. Just all a bit bizarre?

What a shambles!! Surely the Phoenix can't move from club to club as they wish. Does CF support this and what support does CF give WU in the transition year?

LH will be in a similar position in 4 years when the Phoenix decide to move to Miramar Rangers..If in fact there is a Wellington Phoenix.

Is the football community prepared to allow this to happen. In one breath they want the Wellington Football community to support Mr Rudan and his team..In the other breath, they are prepared to cut clubs off at the knees. 

I won't be heading back to the cake tin.

 The Nix did Wellington United a great favour because at the time WU were effectively insolvent as they had large debts and it would have been difficult to have fielded a reasonable first team so the NIx came in and eased their financial issues.

Lower Hutt in recent years have had some significant losses and are no doubt struggling financially so they will be grateful for the asistance that they will receive from The Nix.

Interesting twist...

Someone has a sense of humor. Looks.like first round of central league features Well United v Lower Hutt

#conspiracyderby

Sounds as though NW are recruiting for the new season via Nelson.

Any decisions made regarding the WU vacancy ?

There's Matt Campbell who's involved with both organisations that is the link between them I think. Seen a few Tasman board members etc at NW games in the past as well.

Coaching appointments announced on Saturday

Aye Matt Campbell's the link. Corey Larsen, and the imports Ryan Worrall & Kieran Hughes-Mason all played for North Wellington during the winter before going to Tasman and pretty sure they are heading back to North Wellington after the ISPS

Matt Tod-Smith, Bertie Fish are another two names linked

Must be some more rumours floating around now that most clubs have started up pre-season?

Phil gone from Rapa? Surely they will struggle?

Has he though?

All the other clubs run on fairy dust and unicorn tears?

with the exception of Olympic, Stop Out, North Wellington and Miramar pretty much!