ASB franchises are designed for the best winter league players to join forces and compete at a higher level. I'd prefer to call them teams, rather than clubs in the true sense of the word. The chatham Cup is an historical and proud competition for all clubs in NZ and I don't think ASB franchises [or the Phoenix] should be playing in it.
Fair enough, I just don't see why ASBP teams who as others have said are basically rep teams can play in the OCL when the other sides are from clubs. I can't think of any other equivalent in world football. Even in rugby its only the southern hemisphere sides that are franchise based (Super Rugby).