Do Auckland deserve a team?
Deserve? No-one deserves a team. Wellington doesn't, Melbourne doesn't deserve three. We've got to get past this kind of nastiness against other people trying to make things happen.
I would happily be a joint member of the Nix and the new Auckland A-League franchise, but would barrack for the Nix in derbies because they were there first. I am particularly interested in the idea that the new A-League will not wait for some AKL corporate tyrant to make a bid, but will actually roll into Auckland sometime in the next 5 years and try to actively rustle up support.
As for "transport and stadiums", such things are massively overstated by people who don't live in AKL, or are at least based on how things were 10-15 years ago. They've improved out of sight since the SuperCity moved a whole layer of meddling bureaucracy out of the way. I would not be happy to see the new AKL franchise based out in Albany; but since Eden Park is hurting for tenants right now, dare I hope against hope that it might be based in a stadium 10 minutes train ride from the city, once the City Rail Loop comes online.