Club statement from Phoenix general manager David Dome
— Wellington Phoenix 🔥 (@WgtnPhoenixFC) August 8, 2024
The Wellington Phoenix are seeking further information about Alex Paulsen’s loan move from A.F.C. Bournemouth to Auckland FC.
While the club in principle supports adapting the ‘Caceres Clause’ to allow Paulsen to return to… pic.twitter.com/CIfAKKs2zN
So the Nix don't sound that angry about the move. I mean looking at it objectively they get now get a few more thousand on the gate for the first derby. Plenty more added spice now. Hopefully the pantomine villain come Derby 1, is more the Foley Group, than AP himself.
Plus the Phoenix got a nice fee for Paulsen when he signed a 3 year Nix contract extension last year, and then was sold to Bournemouth. A far worse result for the club would have been Paulsen signing for Auckland, leaving the Nix on a free.
At the end of the day the Nix and AFC play for a max 9 points this season, and 6 pts each season thereafter. I doubt Alex signing for AFC changes the Nix's title chances much. And yeah the 3 derbies now get a publicity boost.
But as NZ football fan first, Nix fan 2nd - I'm disappointed for him he's back in the ALM. Backward & unexciting step for him it must be, even if the 09 is his hometown. As re the above posts Paulsen's development & needs should be front & centre, not the chance of a marketing publicity stunt if this is what Auckland are trying to achieve.
https://aleagues.com.au/news/a-league-rule-change-caceres-clause-explained-latest-updated/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR09-y2O1ncYK8hyWnm8g3z2aespJSKSdHtGhgtdZFT-0ndyVaj48zsqRgU_aem_eSqdKkrcdSNIz4ilLqvlzA
A player contracting rule change was supported by all clubs, with the premise that the APL reviews and maintains certain guardrails.