Phoenix Ownership - Rob says FTFFA

That could have been an extra international friendly that we apparently have no money for.

But no, much better to throw that money on lawyers on a completely frivolous appeal.

NB NZF paying Herbert's wages when he took charge of the Knights and got them rolling did nothing to persuade FFA to extend the Knights licence for a further season.

But all the other guys here saw WE'RE DOOMED and they're at THE SICKBED OF A DYING FRIEND. Who to believe?

Of course the FFA don't want us. And yet, we are here, and they can't get rid of us for 4 years. In such a time, things may change, unless you guys want to go out and keep digging the grave, and telling all those membership-buyers that there's no point.

Like I have mentioned in previous posts, NZF are not the bad guys, (not like they said to the FFA 'ok we cant afford the Nix in our programme, can you kill them off please.')

However since the rejection of a 10 year license, the NZF have been identified as an area which PERHAPS could have done more for the Phoenix cause over the years.

Rightly or wrongly, this is the path the Welnix have chosen to go down to try and better their chances of surviving in the league, so the question is.. do we as supporters just sit back and watch the squabble unfold or do we try and support this prod at NZF by the Welnix? and if so how?

Do we all contact NZF and state we wont watch any of the All Whites games? Or do we get a petition going for amatuer clubs not to pay fees collectively until this is resolved? Not saying any of these are the answer just radical ideas that spring to mind at the time of writing..

I personally believe taking aim at the NZF is the only real way to go about this for 2 reasons. One for the All Whites to grow  be competitive in the future New Zealand needs a professional club. And secondly the only way the FFA are going to even consider changing their mind. Most of us have already worked out this metrics shark is just a smokescreen for 'We want more money or you're outta here.'

The 4 years isn't certain. They could very well get rid of us at the end of this season if the bid from Sydney comes up Millhouse.

In my eyes - the support received so far has been heartening; but more needs to be done for us to have any kind of a chance.

Just more finger pointing, Nothing there about taking up the four years just speculations with no facts.

Da Boss will have the full breakdown of the FFA Metrics by now and his comments on NZF taking a bigger role($$$$$) would be the wrong thing to say in the press if it is not one of the Key Metrics required.

I think the 4 years is certain. FFA would probably have a legal battle on their hands if they didn't honour that (if Welnix decide they want to bother with the 4 years). Lowy himself also said we had 4 years to 'prove our worth'

Perhaps both the angst-buckets and the top-hatted ladies on horseback, like myself, are only reading the bits of information which confirm our previously-reached conclusions... But I would like anyone to give me any textual evidence that the FFA could pull the plug at the end of this season. Not that they want to make things so bad for us that we leave of our own free will at the end of the season - but that they could make us.

I might be a little uncomfortable with NZF subsidising any payments either to the FFA (topping up Sky deal) or to the 'Nix (FFA reducing dividend with NZF topping that up) because the 'Nix generate revenue for the FFA and not for NZF. An argument around payment for player development can be made, hopefully other private academies don't get annoyed with that arrangement.

Where are people telling membership buyers there is no point?

We get it, you don't want the people who think the club is doomed to keep buying memberships tickets and being in these forums.
You don't need to keep harping on about it.

1. And yet here we are.  Where are we? Up sh!t creek with a manky paddle, hoping the tide will turn.

2. Four more years. Is that sufficient for the Welnix to keep pouring money in to the club, Welington and NZ Football?  Only Welnix know that.

So if you are happy to spunk away $1.5 million a year (or whatever it is for the Nix) for the next four years and hope that the initiatives that you want to set up will be sufficiently established to keep going after that  (as a non-renewal of the licence then has to be a contingency to plan for), then you should consider becoming a Welnix partner.

So is what Morrison actually saying is that as a result of NZF not contributing financially to Welnix/WPFC the FFA  would not want the Nix out of the A League? 

I'd suggest that if that is not the answer, then Welnix want NZF [and by extension the whole of NZ football] to financially support them on the basis that they are the only organisation that provides an elite development pathway for NZ footballers?

I am uncomfortable with that, even though I am a nix supporter and recognise that they do provide a valuable pathway for our elite players. However this is much the same argument that could be raised to support a senior club taking funds from the junior side of the club to pay their senior players. How often has that happened? and how much support does that activity have in the football community?

I'm getting ready to be attacked on all sides now but I am a little bit uneasy about some of the arguments here and what it seems Wellnix want from us and NZF. I recall how we were used in the Petone Rec debate and how we have constantly been bombarded with threats of closing if we didn't turn up to games, so I don't necessarily feel the need to fall over myself in support of the club owners. Of course I want us to survive but I want the fanbase to be to be treated with a level of respect to. We are not the millionaires - they are.

So how do you see this as an attack on the fanbase?

Domey's lame beat up re crouds is, but I don't see anything in that statement attacking the fanbase?

Gallop or Lowy insinuated that a lack on sorry from nzf was one of their metrics as is the croud numbers

All I'm saying is that it annoys me; and surely if we're fudged, you should find less depressing things to do or spend money on? Like crochet, or eggball, or Stuff comments boxes. Believe me, better for your emotional health as well as mine.

Unless you like being miserable, in which case, paging Dr Freud.

People round here love this club and even if they think its disease is terminal they're not just going to abandon it.

I agree. No FA should have a financial stakehold in any club. The role of a national FA is "broad church", not to support one development stream/club over another (OK, i know they already do - FTC/NTC - but philosophically, it is wrong). 

The NZ FA should be working with FFA (who should not be running the A league but that separation of powers discussion is for some other time), on a much broader base. As I've said before, we really would benefit from working much more closely across the board with our cuzzies across the ditch. If that had been a long term operational core principle of NZF, we wouldn't be in this shark now.

Actually I think you are all missing the main reason for this:

Lowy is a cod, Gallop is a cod and the FFA board are a bunch of fudgewits.

And of course it is an Australian competition. :)

..just like the NRL and NBL...

No, seriously, Royz, everything's fudged, the club's doomed, why are you here? I am here because I want to support the Nix and help them survive.

So much for the fk off spray working, I want a refund!!.

Jokes aside I want answers on out future not blame games. This latest press release from Welnix is just bullocks! They either want a big rubber stamp of approval from NZF on there academy or they want funds?.  

I don't get where there going with this - Its like there looking for ways out not in.

I'm a Warriors supporter.  I'm used to being disappointed.

As I said I love my club, I will be there on their or my last day, whether it's 6 months away, 4 years away, 10 years away, or they are strong long after I'm gone.

Doesn't change what I think will happen and that won't change until I see more facts etc. that say otherwise.

And I want to see the pessimists, optimists and the undecideds all to support the team, not just the optimists as that won't be enough.

If people are still posting even if it's glim it means they have some emotion left, hell maybe they are hoping to be proven wrong and that's why they are here.  But if they want the club to survive then personally I'd welcome them.

\rant

Change the record or fUck off already.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/a-league/738...

Please tell me any reason why I shouldn't agree with this?

Oh, I agree - he would be entitled to. I don't think he should, or will, though.

In order to think he "should" or "will", there must be an underlying premise: a) that Rob is a football nut who is attracted to the baubles that club ownership bestows (hmmm); or b) feels personally responsible for the development of the elite game in NZ and is prepared to pour money into some sort of supporting business model (English language schools plus football academies to fund it), for not much return, ever, realistically.

With NZF spending money on lawyers, paying SKY for coverage of a semi pro league, and paying for more international games for national teams, I can't see them dipping their hands in their pockets in a big way. Guess we'll find out what Rob thinks on Wednesday night. 

NZF very indifferent toward nix. The Phoenix have probably also stepped on a few toes with their academies etc (which are for the good of football in NZ overall surely). Hearing the term "monopoly" being used in reference to the nix academy structure shows the selfish angst certain people have toward the Phoenix. I just wonder how far that influence goes up in NZF. 

Are NZF there so a few people can make a bit of money/bragging rights/power/control from private academies, or are they there for the good of football in NZ? Based on indifference toward the nix as a development pathway it seems to be the former. 

I can't believe NZF would be so short sighted. Oh, hang on.

No, that would be FIFA. I am 200% sure NZF is nothing like that.

it would be highly unusual of a football association. Especially one as esteemed as NZF. 

Do NZF treat all private acadmies with the same level of indifference?

I think the whole U17s debacle tends to suggest that they do not. 

Zonknz.Jr plays for one of those private academies. It's pretty clear that there is a love/hate relationship with most academies from NZF; especially as some of those academies advise their players not to waste their time in NTC/FTC given the variable quality of the coaching in those programs :>

I do subscribe to that approach. A secondary kid in NZ may have a different coaches 3 times per week - FTC, School & Club comp. It's a ludicrous apprach.