WPM 2026/27 Squad Speculation, Confirmation and Mutual Termination

Nelfoos wrote:
Callan Elliot was born in Scotland, no?

coochiee wrote:

 Nelfoos wrote:
Callan Elliot was born in Scotland, no?

WeeMac is the more obvious "non Scot", who is 99% a Scot.

Walsall Boy wrote:

 coochiee wrote:

 Nelfoos wrote:
Callan Elliot was born in Scotland, no?

WeeMac is the more obvious "non Scot", who is 99% a Scot.

but he was listed as a New Zealand International and therin is the difference.

dunnix wrote:
Two year deal, which is good.
Over 6-foot, which is good.
Chips in with goals, which is good.
Great balance of youth and experience, which is good.
Enough pedigree to get Scottish youth caps, which is good.

Very optimistic about this one, but I imagine this puts the final nail in the 'Corey Hollman to Nix' rumour? Hope we can lock in at least another 1-2 first team quality signings before the end of the month, but the team is taking shape nicely enough albeit with a gap or two going forward.

Nelfoos wrote:

 Walsall Boy wrote:

 coochiee wrote:

 Nelfoos wrote:
Callan Elliot was born in Scotland, no?

WeeMac is the more obvious "non Scot", who is 99% a Scot.

but he was listed as a New Zealand International and therin is the difference.

They didnt say "First Scottish International", they said "First Scottish player". Just because Elliot plays for NZ doesnt make him not Scottish. As coochiee points out, we've had WeeMac as well, so at least 2 before Anderson. Weird reporting.

Looking forward to seeing how he partners with Rufer.

• The Scotland Connection: He was born in Paisley, Scotland, and grew up in the Celtic youth system. He even represented Scotland at the U-20 level. [1]
• The Phoenix Status: Despite his Scottish roots and nickname, he switched his international allegiance to New Zealand's national team (the All Whites) before playing for the Phoenix. He counted as a local player, not a foreign visa player. [1]

• The Scotland Connection: He isn't Scottish—he was born in Mosgiel, New Zealand. However, he spent a season playing in the Scottish Premiership for Aberdeen FC before re-joining the Phoenix for the 2026–27 season.
• The Phoenix Status: He is a New Zealand international occupying a homegrown squad spot.

• The Scotland Connection: He was actually born in Dumfries, Scotland, and his family still lives there. He also had a brief stint playing for Scottish club Motherwell FC.
• The Phoenix Status: He emigrated to New Zealand as a young child, gained citizenship, and chose to represent the All Whites. Because he holds a New Zealand passport, he was registered as a local Kiwi player during his time with the Phoenix before moving to Auckland FC. 

theprof wrote:

 Nelfoos wrote:

 Walsall Boy wrote:

 coochiee wrote:

 Nelfoos wrote:
Callan Elliot was born in Scotland, no?

WeeMac is the more obvious "non Scot", who is 99% a Scot.

but he was listed as a New Zealand International and therin is the difference.

They didnt say "First Scottish International", they said "First Scottish player". Just because Elliot plays for NZ doesnt make him not Scottish. As coochiee points out, we've had WeeMac as well, so at least 2 before Anderson. Weird reporting.

Looking forward to seeing how he partners with Rufer.

prro reporting is the norm! maybe they latched onto him being born in Scotland, playing for Scotland which makes him the first full Scot to oplay for the Nix?
Tenuous I know.

AI search confirms......

The distinction comes down to their international eligibility and where they grew up:🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 "Weemac" (Michael McGlinchey)

• The Scotland Connection: He was born in Paisley, Scotland, and grew up in the Celtic youth system. He even represented Scotland at the U-20 level. [1]
• The Phoenix Status: Despite his Scottish roots and nickname, he switched his international allegiance to New Zealand's national team (the All Whites) before playing for the Phoenix. He counted as a local player, not a foreign visa player. [1]

🇳🇿 James McGarry

• The Scotland Connection: He isn't Scottish—he was born in Mosgiel, New Zealand. However, he spent a season playing in the Scottish Premiership for Aberdeen FC before re-joining the Phoenix for the 2026–27 season.
• The Phoenix Status: He is a New Zealand international occupying a homegrown squad spot.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Callan Elliot

• The Scotland Connection: He was actually born in Dumfries, Scotland, and his family still lives there. He also had a brief stint playing for Scottish club Motherwell FC.
• The Phoenix Status: He emigrated to New Zealand as a young child, gained citizenship, and chose to represent the All Whites. Because he holds a New Zealand passport, he was registered as a local Kiwi player during his time with the Phoenix before moving to Auckland FC. 

Because of these unique dual-nationality backgrounds, Max Anderson remains the first player to sign for the senior men's team directly as a foreign international visa player from Scotland. Would you like to take a look at how Auckland FC's squad compares with these former Phoenix players, or see who else is occupying Wellington's remaining visa slots?

RR wrote:
Expires 2026/27
Riley Bidois [Loan]
Anaru Cassidy [S]
Luke Brooke-Smith
Fin Roa Conchie
Henry Gray [Loan]
Alby Kelly-Heald
Lukas Kelly-Heald
Xuan Loke
Kazuki Nagasawa [V]
Corban Piper
Jayden Smith

Expires 2027/28
Max Anderson [V]
Rafael Durán [V]
Isaac Hughes
James McGarry
Matt Sheridan
Nathan Walker
Bill Tuiloma

Expires 2028/29
Eamonn McCarron

18/23 Senior Deals Filled
1/16 Scholarship Deals Filled
3/5 Visas Spots Filled 

Southernix wrote:
 Looks like you have LBS (26/27) instead of Rufer (27/28) 

Nelfoos wrote:
Callan Elliot was born in Scotland, no?

wilbaker wrote:

 dunnix wrote:
Two year deal, which is good.
Over 6-foot, which is good.
Chips in with goals, which is good.
Great balance of youth and experience, which is good.
Enough pedigree to get Scottish youth caps, which is good.

Very optimistic about this one, but I imagine this puts the final nail in the 'Corey Hollman to Nix' rumour? Hope we can lock in at least another 1-2 first team quality signings before the end of the month, but the team is taking shape nicely enough albeit with a gap or two going forward.

Yeah I'm suprised Hollman hasn't signed for another A-League team by now or popped up in a random SE Asian team. I'd have him ahead of Conchie and Cassidy but probably overkill for us to sign him with our depth in those 2 and Nagasawa can cover.

If we use our last 2 visa's on a 10 and ST we'll be looking pretty good (obviously depending on the quality of the visas) If we only use 1 visa spot for a 10 I'll be a bit more concerned if we have enough goals in the squad though I'm kinda optimistic of Piper having a 10 goal season if he's a starter.

Bradman99 wrote:

 wilbaker wrote:

 dunnix wrote:
Two year deal, which is good.
Over 6-foot, which is good.
Chips in with goals, which is good.
Great balance of youth and experience, which is good.
Enough pedigree to get Scottish youth caps, which is good.

Very optimistic about this one, but I imagine this puts the final nail in the 'Corey Hollman to Nix' rumour? Hope we can lock in at least another 1-2 first team quality signings before the end of the month, but the team is taking shape nicely enough albeit with a gap or two going forward.

Yeah I'm suprised Hollman hasn't signed for another A-League team by now or popped up in a random SE Asian team. I'd have him ahead of Conchie and Cassidy but probably overkill for us to sign him with our depth in those 2 and Nagasawa can cover.

If we use our last 2 visa's on a 10 and ST we'll be looking pretty good (obviously depending on the quality of the visas) If we only use 1 visa spot for a 10 I'll be a bit more concerned if we have enough goals in the squad though I'm kinda optimistic of Piper having a 10 goal season if he's a starter.



 

Up top we have Dura, Bidois, Piper & Walker.   Walker has looked sharp pre-season.  We look pretty set there.  Still a bit light in the 10's.  Only really have Nagasawa there.  Walker can play 10 but looks better up top or wide.

We seem set in the Defensive Midfield role and ok at the back.  It depends really on how flexible Greeny is with his formation he wants to play.

nixin wrote:
Greenacre said he's hoping to sign a CAM tonight.