WPM 2025/26 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

anaveragestem

Jessie Merino

coochiee

YoungHeartHM

Just to give a small idea of the types of players we were looking at from the domestic scene relatively recently - Aiden Carey out of Western Springs.

He's probably unlikely to get another shot as he had trialled with the Nix at the same time Corban Piper first came down to Wellington, and ultimately the club liked Corbans versatility more.

But just a wee bit of an insight into the types of players we might be looking at to fill out a squad - guys that have been around the National League scene for a few years and have 70-80-90+ odd games under their belts.

For sure the Nix won't be spending at the same level as Auckland, but listening to Dome this season has stung the club you feel. They don't want a repeat.

Wootton and Sutton leaving will free up some salary budget space. Same Ball, OVH, Al-Taay & Rojas leaving in season.

Hopefully Welnix give Chief the spending budget that he feels he needs. He may want professionally experienced free agent Kiwis/Aussies in their mid 20s onwards, rather than plucking amateurs out of the NZ domestic leagues.

Though yes Piper has shown there can be some gems around deserving of a chance. Still with about 8 guys of the likely NZU20 WC squad already contracted to the Nix, do they need anymore young NZ locals?

Piper was basically working part time as PT at Birkenhead, and was built like a brick shark house before coming into a pro environment. So straight away he was more ready to handle the higher conditioned/physical nature of the ALM. An exception to the rule of most amateur domestic players.

Piper a gem! Spare me!

Yep 100% a gem. Your opinion has been in the minority now for probably 3/4 games. I'm actually very excited to see how he continues to develop next season. 

He is an absolute battler and workhorse of a player. Shark loads of personality. Great player to watch in my opinion. 

Correct me if i'm wrong but the guy has managed to score as many goals in one season as Rufer in his entire career. So yea, I'm excited to see how he goes next year. Can only get better 

MetalLegNZ

My understanding is a mutual termination would still count against your salary cap. At least, that's based off of my FM knowledge : )

Would it still count if you terminate before the season though? They wouldn't be registered as part of the 22 or 23 (or however many it is) A-League players for the season so would their terminated salary still count towards the A-League cap?

I genuinely don't know, just feel that if you don't register a player to play in a competition they shouldn't count towards that competition's cap

With it being basically confirmed Sutton and Wootton are going to Perth, (and rumours of this floating around since January) it got me thinking, can anyone recall of a time that the Phoenix have signed a player in January for the following season? They're either really great at keeping it under wraps or we usually only start to look at recruiting for next season once the current one finishes. Hopefully with Chiefy confirmed we can at least start tapping up players if we haven't already.

Since2007

With it being basically confirmed Sutton and Wootton are going to Perth, (and rumours of this floating around since January) it got me thinking, can anyone recall of a time that the Phoenix have signed a player in January for the following season? They're either really great at keeping it under wraps or we usually only start to look at recruiting for next season once the current one finishes. Hopefully with Chiefy confirmed we can at least start tapping up players if we haven't already.

Carlos Hernandez? I'm pretty sure he was signed by Ricki but Ernie Merrick was in charge by the time he arrived. I could be wrong

Half a Pint

MetalLegNZ

My understanding is a mutual termination would still count against your salary cap. At least, that's based off of my FM knowledge : )

Would it still count if you terminate before the season though? They wouldn't be registered as part of the 22 or 23 (or however many it is) A-League players for the season so would their terminated salary still count towards the A-League cap?

I genuinely don't know, just feel that if you don't register a player to play in a competition they shouldn't count towards that competition's cap

I always though on FM a mutual termination didn't count towards the cap or it was a lot less that counted towards the cap then a straight release where you pay the contract out fully.

wilbaker

Half a Pint

MetalLegNZ

My understanding is a mutual termination would still count against your salary cap. At least, that's based off of my FM knowledge : )

Would it still count if you terminate before the season though? They wouldn't be registered as part of the 22 or 23 (or however many it is) A-League players for the season so would their terminated salary still count towards the A-League cap?

I genuinely don't know, just feel that if you don't register a player to play in a competition they shouldn't count towards that competition's cap

I always though on FM a mutual termination didn't count towards the cap or it was a lot less that counted towards the cap then a straight release where you pay the contract out fully.

irl any payment to facilitate a termination should be included in the cap. If that payment exceeds that current season  contract it counts towards the following season's cap unless that player is not subject to the salary cap. I don't think you can retroactively make someone a marquee if you would like to terminate their contract and not have it included in the cap - might be able to change registration in midseason transfer window and then terminate

martinb

On the pod there was talk about further mutual terminations to upgrade the squad.

Does the cost of that salary from a terminated player still count against the cap? 

Is this just a blind guess by the podsters or is it an educated guess, reading between the lines on Chief’s last interview? 

Any more information or guesswork on likely spots this might focus on?

(Please note- this could easily get into if this is shifting blame for the season on the players, avoiding responsibility for best using resources etc. I think that that’s probably a discussion for the past season thread or elsewhere, not the next season squad thread.) 

No particular insight. Just random musings. 

A mutual with Oluwayemi is the obvious one that screams out as a possibility. Would free up a valuable visa spot. Really good shot stopper, but is that enough? Could soon free agent Jack Duncan return to the Nix, and be pretty much same level as Josh O?

Question for Chiefy & Rueben Parker (GK coach), and how is the team going to play next season. Less playing out from the back, so someone ALM experienced like Duncan be an option. Muddled a bit by AKH currently being injured. 

I guess Nagasawa (age 33) and Retre (32) as two others (both signed until next year), that's it debatable if they will have better 2nd seasons or not.

Italiano has shown he can be ruthless when he wants to freeze someone out. You don't get to play when he'd rather you left.

coochiee

A mutual with Oluwayemi is the obvious one that screams out as a possibility. Would free up a valuable visa spot. Really good shot stopper, but is that enough? Could soon free agent Jack Duncan return to the Nix, and be pretty much same level as Josh O?

Question for Chiefy & Rueben Parker (GK coach), and how is the team going to play next season. Less playing out from the back, so someone ALM experienced like Duncan be an option. Muddled a bit by AKH currently being injured. 

I guess Nagasawa (age 33) and Retre (32) as two others (both signed until next year), that's it debatable if they will have better 2nd seasons or not.

Italiano has shown he can be ruthless when he wants to freeze someone out. You don't get to play when he'd rather you left.

You will have to ask Rueben Parker asap as he is gone next season!

Just personally I’d love to see Nagasawa play more. If we’re successful particularly! However, Chief has given him less and less playing time and seems hesitant to play him in a forward role. 

He also seemed to have clicked most with Kosta and Sutton, though he did also get on the end of that pure, pure piece of football between Ishige, Payne and Kosta to give it the goal it deserved. 

Retre, unfortunately has contributed little. Josh has to be a candidate to go too. However, I feel we were more competitive with him than Albie, simply because our game plan has relied on keeping the long distance shots out and he’s better at that. 

Yeh, unfortunately or fortunately I think those 3 names seem reasonable for release. That would give us 3 or 4 visa spots, Chico dependent.

Valeo seems to rate Nagasawa quite highly- I wonder what position he sees him if he does stay next season? 

The downside of a clear out is needing more time to bed in a system and a team feeling, when we already have at least half of our back line to replace. 

Has their been an announcement about Parker? I saw the one for Piper today.

Double post 

It's also been mentioned that the lack of English for Nagasawa and/or Ishige has been an onfield/training issue. Hopefully that would be less so in Season 2 for both of them. 

Doesn't look to be any official news yet on Parker, only yes that Jake Piper is leaving.
https://wellingtonphoenix.com/

coochiee

It's also been mentioned that the lack of English for Nagasawa and/or Ishige has been an onfield/training issue. Hopefully that would be less so in Season 2 for both of them. 

Doesn't look to be any official news yet on Parker, only yes that Jake Piper is leaving.
https://wellingtonphoenix.com/

Nagasawa's English is pretty good, not as good as Chico, but can do interviews and joke in English

Domes comments on TV1 news were not exactly inspiring regarding Kosta.

I believe he said “we would like to have a serious conversation with Kosta to see where his head is at”

Nagasawa looks so good further forward, so instead Italiano doesn’t play him at all. I can see us repeating this season but with new players and the same old excuses

AucklandPhoenix

Domes comments on TV1 news were not exactly inspiring regarding Kosta.

I believe he said “we would like to have a serious conversation with Kosta to see where his head is at”

Sadly agree with you will be a massive FK up if the club has let him slip away AGAIN.
Will also be bitterly disappointed in Kosta if he does go given he said he wanted to come back and try to win it here. 

ballane

AucklandPhoenix

Domes comments on TV1 news were not exactly inspiring regarding Kosta.

I believe he said “we would like to have a serious conversation with Kosta to see where his head is at”

Sadly agree with you will be a massive FK up if the club has let him slip away AGAIN.
Will also be bitterly disappointed in Kosta if he does go given he said he wanted to come back and try to win it here. 

Or it’s negotiating to get the highest coin, which is his right. 
Sucks for us fans! 

Lots of other clubs will have seen what an excellent season Costa has had in a struggling team. It all depends on what sort of risk he wants to take going to another club. He will 100 % start at the Nix. His goal will be to make the WC squad

austin111

Lots of other clubs will have seen what an excellent season Costa has had in a struggling team. It all depends on what sort of risk he wants to take going to another club. He will 100 % start at the Nix. His goal will be to make the WC squad

I'd imagine his goal will be to make as much coin as possible to set up both himself and his family in the twilight of his career. I could see a world cup coming second to that.

austin111

Lots of other clubs will have seen what an excellent season Costa has had in a struggling team. It all depends on what sort of risk he wants to take going to another club. He will 100 % start at the Nix. His goal will be to make the WC squad

I'd imagine his goal will be to make as much coin as possible to set up both himself and his family in the twilight of his career. I could see a world cup coming second to that.

Monto

austin111

Lots of other clubs will have seen what an excellent season Costa has had in a struggling team. It all depends on what sort of risk he wants to take going to another club. He will 100 % start at the Nix. His goal will be to make the WC squad

I'd imagine his goal will be to make as much coin as possible to set up both himself and his family in the twilight of his career. I could see a world cup coming second to that.

The money he would make for being part of the World Cup would be pretty good….. potentially more then any club contract 

I thought it was interesting how the NIX heirachy said that players are not part of the consultation/hiring process for managers.

Whilst I understand the concept of the above, I do think a few players should have been should tapped for their insight as understanding the culture within the playing ranks surely has to be a consideration.

Barbs, Rufer, Wooten and maybe Hughes (to represent the younger players etc) should have been asked.

Are Wooten and Sutton moving because Perth offered them the best deal, or is in part because they don't want to be under Chiefy etc. If Kosta is unhappy in the environment already - why work there another year if there are good opportunities elsewhere?

Monto

austin111

Lots of other clubs will have seen what an excellent season Costa has had in a struggling team. It all depends on what sort of risk he wants to take going to another club. He will 100 % start at the Nix. His goal will be to make the WC squad

I'd imagine his goal will be to make as much coin as possible to set up both himself and his family in the twilight of his career. I could see a world cup coming second to that.

Except he has indicated a real desire to go to the world cup and has stated its a real priority for him after missing out previously.

MetalLegNZ

I thought it was interesting how the NIX heirachy said that players are not part of the consultation/hiring process for managers.

Whilst I understand the concept of the above, I do think a few players should have been should tapped for their insight as understanding the culture within the playing ranks surely has to be a consideration.

Barbs, Rufer, Wooten and maybe Hughes (to represent the younger players etc) should have been asked.

Are Wooten and Sutton moving because Perth offered them the best deal, or is in part because they don't want to be under Chiefy etc. If Kosta is unhappy in the environment already - why work there another year if there are good opportunities elsewhere?

I’m 100% sure senior players would have been talked to, and are talked to throughout the year irrespective, but probably not as part of the official process. 

As for Sutton, Perth is honestly a decent kind of OE. It’s a different world to Welly and a long way away. He hasn’t been able to catapult into Europe or the US (yet) and he’s certainly done his time for us. 🤷‍♂️ It’s unfortunate, but also like Oli, maybe actually quite a good choice. 

And they are already accustomed to long commutes every second week they'd have with Perth, after playing for the Nix and doing just that. 

YellowAndBlack

Monto

austin111

Lots of other clubs will have seen what an excellent season Costa has had in a struggling team. It all depends on what sort of risk he wants to take going to another club. He will 100 % start at the Nix. His goal will be to make the WC squad

I'd imagine his goal will be to make as much coin as possible to set up both himself and his family in the twilight of his career. I could see a world cup coming second to that.

The money he would make for being part of the World Cup would be pretty good….. potentially more then any club contract 

Fair shout, good point

MetalLegNZ

I thought it was interesting how the NIX heirachy said that players are not part of the consultation/hiring process for managers.

Whilst I understand the concept of the above, I do think a few players should have been should tapped for their insight as understanding the culture within the playing ranks surely has to be a consideration.

Barbs, Rufer, Wooten and maybe Hughes (to represent the younger players etc) should have been asked.

Are Wooten and Sutton moving because Perth offered them the best deal, or is in part because they don't want to be under Chiefy etc. If Kosta is unhappy in the environment already - why work there another year if there are good opportunities elsewhere?

I know for Sutton it's money and location

Monto

MetalLegNZ

I thought it was interesting how the NIX heirachy said that players are not part of the consultation/hiring process for managers.

Whilst I understand the concept of the above, I do think a few players should have been should tapped for their insight as understanding the culture within the playing ranks surely has to be a consideration.

Barbs, Rufer, Wooten and maybe Hughes (to represent the younger players etc) should have been asked.

Are Wooten and Sutton moving because Perth offered them the best deal, or is in part because they don't want to be under Chiefy etc. If Kosta is unhappy in the environment already - why work there another year if there are good opportunities elsewhere?

I know for Sutton it's money and location

What's he getting in Perth over Wellington, besides a big flat, mining town?

theprof

Monto

MetalLegNZ

I thought it was interesting how the NIX heirachy said that players are not part of the consultation/hiring process for managers.

Whilst I understand the concept of the above, I do think a few players should have been should tapped for their insight as understanding the culture within the playing ranks surely has to be a consideration.

Barbs, Rufer, Wooten and maybe Hughes (to represent the younger players etc) should have been asked.

Are Wooten and Sutton moving because Perth offered them the best deal, or is in part because they don't want to be under Chiefy etc. If Kosta is unhappy in the environment already - why work there another year if there are good opportunities elsewhere?

I know for Sutton it's money and location

What's he getting in Perth over Wellington, besides a big flat, mining town?

...weather, beaches, money

3 very good reasons

theprof

Monto

MetalLegNZ

I thought it was interesting how the NIX heirachy said that players are not part of the consultation/hiring process for managers.

Whilst I understand the concept of the above, I do think a few players should have been should tapped for their insight as understanding the culture within the playing ranks surely has to be a consideration.

Barbs, Rufer, Wooten and maybe Hughes (to represent the younger players etc) should have been asked.

Are Wooten and Sutton moving because Perth offered them the best deal, or is in part because they don't want to be under Chiefy etc. If Kosta is unhappy in the environment already - why work there another year if there are good opportunities elsewhere?

I know for Sutton it's money and location

What's he getting in Perth over Wellington, besides a big flat, mining town?

money and location

I think with Sutts, it’s unfortunate we couldn’t get his name up in lights with a good transfer fee, but I’d say we’ve had the equivalent of a transfer fee in service to the club through times thick and thin. 

And it seems like there are some players coming through from the academy and so we begin again. But hopefully we get the imports and tactics right and we can convert our chances for trophies. 
Edit:
Perth is a different climate. Different culture. But enough like home to be a bit less scary. Very different animal life. Never been. My great aunt assures me sometimes you can cook an egg on the manhole covers. Edit edit: Actually he should have a go at Aussie Rules. I think he’d be a decent footy player and that’s away to play in front of some proper crowds in Melbourne. Plus he’d have to up his fitness!

martinb

Just personally I’d love to see Nagasawa play more. If we’re successful particularly! However, Chief has given him less and less playing time and seems hesitant to play him in a forward role. 

He also seemed to have clicked most with Kosta and Sutton, though he did also get on the end of that pure, pure piece of football between Ishige, Payne and Kosta to give it the goal it deserved. 

Retre, unfortunately has contributed little. Josh has to be a candidate to go too. However, I feel we were more competitive with him than Albie, simply because our game plan has relied on keeping the long distance shots out and he’s better at that. 

Yeh, unfortunately or fortunately I think those 3 names seem reasonable for release. That would give us 3 or 4 visa spots, Chico dependent.

Valeo seems to rate Nagasawa quite highly- I wonder what position he sees him if he does stay next season? 

The downside of a clear out is needing more time to bed in a system and a team feeling, when we already have at least half of our back line to replace. 

I've gone up and down on Nagasawa this season.

But I see him as a forward player who links the play and is best just basically running around like a headless chicken to do so.

What he is terrible at is consistent long range passing and defensive positioning. At the start of the season he was being asked to play deeper and he just kept getting bypassed, it was tough to watch. His passing is also so, so inconsistent and it made appreciate Rufer even more!

I do think there's something there in the right system.

Ishige, I think is limited too much by his lack of physicality.  90% of games he just disappears

Perth is a truly horrid place to live and I feel bad enough for them for sleepwalking into such a hellish, drought-ridden wasteland that I doubt even a Wootton overhead bicycle kick singlehandedly totaling our 25/26 campaign would be enough to evoke a disapproving boo.

I think that’s fair. I think Nagasawa has good anticipation. He’s always looking for the next move, and he makes more interceptions I think compared to Rufer bustling someone off the ball. It’s also a handy feature on attack with making runs or seeing the potential for runs. Needs to understand how to work the ref better, but that’s all of us. 

Ishige is absolutely brilliant in moments. He does things others wouldn’t think of, attempt or be able to do even if everything else was equal. He hasn’t had much protection and he does have periods of lacking influence. I don’t know if I’ve said more than 5 or 10 times, but I really liked the experiment with him playing deeper, getting more touches and increasing the pace we were playing at. 

Since this is transfer speculation, and since last year we sold all of our best young talent...what are the odds that a promising youngsters or two will be sold in the off season? I know we've had a terrible season, but I wonder if the likes of Huges, Sheridan or even Pounds have done enough to get picked up?

Hughes & Sheridan are both contracted until the end of the 2027/28 season. 3 more seasons.

Odds on their values are going to increase between now and then, ie good chance they will have that 'breakout' campaign before those contracts expire. Plus Dome's rhetoric is really about giving Italiano every chance to succeeed next season, not having another bad one. Hard to see either Issac or Matt moving on just yet.

All of those likely to go to the upcoming U20 WC, it will be a bit more uncertain. Always a chance they star and some crazy club offer comes in.

Was some rumoured interest (Stoke City?) in Supyk, and he only has 12 months left. Nix won't want him to leave on a free. If Waine does return to Welly (and Barba stays!), might as well try get a fee for Supyk before next year? Contract lengths below of those likely to go to the U20 WC

Expires 2025/26
Luke Supyk

Expires 2026/27
Luke Brooke-Smith
Alby Kelly-Heald
Lukas Kelly-Heald
Xuan Loke
Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues
Jayden Smith

Expires 2027/28
Nathan Walker

newzealandpower

Since this is transfer speculation, and since last year we sold all of our best young talent...what are the odds that a promising youngsters or two will be sold in the off season? I know we've had a terrible season, but I wonder if the likes of Huges, Sheridan or even Pounds have done enough to get picked up?

Pounds still has a year and a bit until he turns 18, so won't be able to leave before then anyway. In saying that, its probably in his best interests to plug along for a couple more seasons yet as well. Talented footballer, but not yet the finished article. Regular playing time in the first team environment, even if it is more off the bench than in a starting role is only going to further his development in the long run too.

Don't think there would be too much interest in the other young lads that have seen major minutes this year either.

I do wonder if Stoke will rekindle their interest and come back to knock on the door for Luke Supyk though?

Yeah if you were a betting man, Supyk looks the most likely in the short term to be on sold, but it wouldn't be much of a fee if so. Does have the very handy UK passport to make any transfer easier to happen.

What happens at the U20 WC being the future unknown. European clubs may pay less attention than prior events re it being a shop window. Will be a tonne of the world's best young players not there, as the dates this time (Sept-Oct) clash with the start of the club seasons in Europe. So the overall quality at WC could be down on previous versions.

Supyk hat trick vs Wrexham, Vardy falls through, Wrexham pick up Luke for a cool million