We're f*cked. Wooden spoon.
The pre season friendlies the Nix will soon play in Aus, against other ALM teams will give some gauge of where the team is at. As per AV's article, it's the APL as a whole that's driving this strategy of the A League paring back it's player payment expenses. That's in a bid to make the league more financially sustainable. Really it seems only City & maybe WSW are making big signings. Sounds like most of the other clubs are doing similar to the Phoenix.
Don't forget the TV rights income (biggest income source for all the clubs?) is less than 50% of what it was in the Fox Sports Days. Something had to give. Plus for the Welnix in the last 2 years they have added a ALW team to their expense column, now sans NZF financial help.
I'd like the Nix to sign some of NZ's best domestic players, not just Academy kids - but Gill & Dome have explained in detail, why it's now all about the Weenix re new signings. Very much a business driven decision, so fair enough. Other domestic players will be hoping a new Auckland team look to the local NZ scene, when assembling a squad.
Overall the Nix need to get more out of their 4 visa players compared to last season.