Timeline courtesy of https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/103949528/wellington-phoenix-silence-speaks-volumes-as-doubt-festers-over-clubs-future
HOW THE CURRENT PHOENIX SAGA HAS UNFOLDED
March 28: Football Federation Australia calls for expressions of interest from parties wishing to join the A-League, with two teams set to be added ahead of the 2019-20 season.
April 3: A-League boss Greg O'Rourke tells AAP the Phoenix are short of the metrics they need to hit in order to trigger a three-year licence extension in 2020:
April 14: The Phoenix finish the 2017-18 A-League season with a 2-1 win over Melbourne City in Auckland.
April 22: The Sunday Herald Sun reports the Phoenix are "exploring the option of selling at least a partial stake to one of the expansion hopefuls," claiming they've had talks with two expansion bids in recent days, one of which was believed to be South West Sydney.
April 24: The Phoenix issue a statement with the key line: "We will not be making any decision on the future of this club until the future of the A-League is clearer which may not be for some time".
April 24: Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison grants an interview toRadio Sport. He confirms the Phoenix have talked to parties interested in joining the A-League. He is asked: "Are you interested in selling the A-League licence you hold?" and says: "No, is the simple answer. There's not a lot of sense in us selling the licence". The possibility of a merger of some description is left on the table.
April 25: A report in the Sydney Morning Herald offers one bit of new information: South Melbourne officials have reached out to the Phoenix again that week.
April 25: The Herald Sun follows up its original report,saying the Phoenix "have failed to dispel speculation that their A-League licence is up for sale". The fresh report focuses on ongoing negotiations between the Phoenix and the South West Sydney bid.
April 27: The World Game reports that the Brisbane Strikers, an existing club bidding to join the A-League, are interested in buying the Phoenix's licence. Chairman Bruce Atterton-Evans claims "talks are ongoing," between the Strikers and the Phoenix. The report also includes fresh quotes from South Melbourne bid chairman Bill Papastergiadis, who claims Morrison and Dome met them in Melbourne in 2017 offering to sell 25 per cent of the club for $1.6 million.
April 27: The Phoenix issue a statement, dismissing the Strikers' claim as "pure fairytale stuff". They also responds to the South Melbourne claims: "The only meeting the Phoenix had in Melbourne, with South Melbourne, took place in June 2016 and that was in response to an approach from South Melbourne to the Wellington Phoenix. There has been no contact since August 2016 , apart from an email from South Melbourne three days ago which the Phoenix have not replied to".
May 7: Dome tells Stuff the reports out of Australia were part of an FFA strategy to deflect attention from their own issues.
May 9: Midfielder Matt Ridenton leaves the Phoenix after five years, signing with the Newcastle Jets. The next day he tells Stuff the uncertainty surrounding the club was a factor in his departure.
May 11: The Herald Sun reports that a memorandum of understanding has been agreed between the Phoenix and South West Sydney, with a 50 per cent stake in the club to be sold immediately. "A large portion" of home games would be played in Sydney, and the existing contracts of 10 Phoenix players would be honoured.
May 11: FFA chief executive David Gallop confirms he met with Morrison and Marra that day, and issues a statement to AAP.
May 11:The Phoenix tweet that they "once again will refuse to speculate on speculation".
May 12: The Phoenix issue a statement. It contains no mention of South West Sydney, but says "there are currently potential options that are worth exploring," while repeating Morrison's claim that "the club is not looking to sell its licence".
May 15: The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the FFA is set to reject a $16.3m sale of the Phoenix to the South-West Sydney bid, in order to "[maintain] the integrity of its current expansion process".
Sauce: https://forum.insidesport.com.au/FindPost2654254.aspx