I think you've missed my point - I just don't get why some 'football' people apparently feel like this is a choice and that they're conflicted. For me, it's exactly the type of poor excuse that Rudan is trying to banish, and I fully support him in that. Sure, support your local club, watch your Euro team too. But, at the expense of the Nix, who are on your doorstep providing a genuine local pathway to pro football for NZ kids? That's pure madness IMHO. Rudan and the Nix are challenging us all to aim higher and be better than that.
Sure, life takes and needs all kinds. But, not sure really what that's got to do with it...
Life is busy, people are forced into choices about how they spend their time. If I have only 2 hours spare on a weekend when the nix are away,, then the arsenal game probably wins for me. In winter, I might officiate 1-2 games of local football. I might even spectate a Sunday Central league game if one is on. Again, choices.
I suspect there are just different sets of people, who select their 'team' in different ways. Their first team might be City, or Preston north end, and the Phoenix merely scratches a local itch. For others Olympic will always come first.
That people who follow the a-league seem to take offence at the way other people spend their time has always bemused me.