the one thing in our favour at the moment is that we doing more than some clubs to develop young Aussie talent.
True, which is why Ernie was canny in recruiting guys like Tratt or Parkhouse. That's them metrics right there.
While FFA runs the HAL the question "how does Phoenix benefit the league" will be asked, and they do not care that much about the development of NZ players (while they sure liked Rojas or Smeltz). There are some pundits (like "Sheryl Bright") who objectively see the Nix as a better and more stable club than say the Jets or even the Roar (which went through its own problems with the Bakri Group recently), but that matters little when an inconvenient issue crops up (like the TV rights and what SKY pays to FOX).
Ultimately we are "an Australian club" but we are "located in New Zealand", as per FIFA/AFC/FFA terms of agreement. This location makes us a poor cousin in terms of love and affection heaped on us by the rellies. Recruitment across the ditch is one good way to keep it up.
This does not necessarily mean that Rudan is necessarily the best choice for a coach for us,but it probably would not hurt if he was appointed, as long as he is half-decent at coaching.
I am also desperate for our team to show a bit of mongrel spirit on the pitch. The Desipher combo is a bit too nice.