Here's my appeal for support via the Knees Up Mother Brown (West Ham) website;
Hi KUMB podcast
I've been a listener of your excellent podcast since it began and a West Ham supporter since 1979; you were kind enough to interview me back in Series 3 so I could explain about the Kiwi Hammers. I'd like to prevail upon your generosity and love of all that's good in this world one more time and tell you a real-life story about our local professional club the Wellington Phoenix; it's plight and potential imminent demise.
In 2007 following the financial failure of its forerunner the New Zealand Knights and before it the Football Kingz, a offer to takeover the franchise to play in the Australian A League was made by Terry Seripisos, a local developer. From the ashes of the Knights grew a professional team coached by Ricki Herbert the national coach and lately Ernie Merrick, formerly of Melbourne Victory. From its early somewhat chaotic beginnings, the team soon challenged for a spot in the play offs and croud numbers grew to around 10-12,000. In 2007 they played host to the LA Galaxy (32,000) featuring David Beckham and in 2010, 33,000 watched them complete in the play offs.
The team is financially stable thanks to the astute yet philanthropic backing of a consortium of successful Wellington businessmen; Welnix. The team is professionally coached, and has not only a development squad but a youth squad providing a pathway to professional football for emerging talent in New Zealand.
The license to play was extended in 2010 until the end of 2015/16 and negotiations have been ongoing to extend it further. The club applied for a new 10 year deal, Football Federation Australia (FFA) deem the croud numbers, SKY TV revenue and appeal of maintaining a NZ team in an Australian league to fall short of their hitherto unpublished criteria. They want another Australian team, preferably from a big city offering lots of fans, less travel and more TV revenue in the deal they strike with FoxSports. They have offered to support a four year extension but that's the end of it. The consortium are currently considering their response.
So a successful club with financial backing, passionate supporters may fall on its sword simply because they don't fit the FFA plan for growth.
I can't go to see my beloved West Ham so match days at the Westpac stadium come a close second. They're not looking for sympathy; all we're asking is the issue is shared and that anyone listening in can show solidarity by signing our petition.
Follow the story and ideas about how you can show support at
http://www.radiosport.co.nz/opinion/wellington-phoenix-what-can-you-do-to-help/#.VjEOy_csEzY.twitter
A petition has been signed by nearly 7,000 people. Join in on
https://www.change.org/p/australian-ffa-save-the-wellington-phoenix