IIRC the Phoenix have a record for the most players a single club has had represented in a world cup squad, they also produced 7 players for the under 17 team that did so well in Chile.
That is how important the Phoenix are. Without them we wouldn't have qualified for the World Cup, and we would probably have finished last in our pool in the under 17 world cup. And things are only getting better.
You do what you can to keep an asset that is performing so well even if it means swallowing your pride and compromising.
I agree that the above argument cannot be simply dismissed. But it does not flow directly into our discussion with FFA. It does however flow indirectly because it is linked with the issue of promoting The Nix, which may impact on broadcast deals, bums on seats and "metrix"..
Just last night I listened to RNZ sports news interviewing Kosta on the eve of the game in Oman. It was good to hear and they gave him plenty of time despite the fact that I personally consider the result of this game irrelevant. I can attest that RNZ always comment on the AW games etc but not very much on the Nix games, except this morning which was an exception when they talked about the importance of the Adelaide game. In the past they would maybe say the result of the Nix game but would have no other pre- or post-game comments. They would also give lengthy coverage of the EPL game results and interviews.
This is an example of the missing links in the engagement with the media. A lot of people listen to RNZ (contrary to what some say about it being elitist). So maybe there is room for NZF to channel the media engagement, that the likes of RNZ have for the AWs, into an engagement with the Nix, on the grounds that this is where the AW strength comes from (or at least used to come from and may again). it would not cost them much, but they might have to get off their butt and accept that they are actually in the same boat as the Nix, ultimately.