You made a couple errors in your assertions, like Gianni, who was offered a deal and turned it down to try Europe....
....
Actually no, that's not the case. It's simply the club spiel coming through Phillip Rollo. (I support both the Phoenix and the stuff coverage by the way.) It was the unproven Ufuk who scarpered those negotiations.
It's part of the issue of the club not having a culture of development of players. The 'strategy' is piecemeal at best.
It's one thing to have an academy and further refine identified talent, but most kids will come from outside Wellington, so are not living in familiar surrounds. These kids need support across the board when they are under the increased pressure of the A-League. A lot of the best talents in NZ don't want to come to the Phoenix. That's just the start.
As well, the players need game time and individual development. The likes of Rudan, and the apprentice Talay, are not the kind who communicate directly to develop individuals nor does the club have others to mentor/coach the young lads - the lads who are supposedly the financial future of the club.
I entirely agree with your sentiment of seeing the club as a "stepping stone". My only point is: it's easy to say the club has a new strategy, but this has to be detailed, communicated and upheld right across the entire player cycle.