Phoenix Here To Stay - Official -- well 5 years more

[midfielder]

Good news IMO the Nix have a contract  until 2016.

http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/127072,phoenix-here-to-stay--official.aspx
Phoenix Here To Stay - Official


Staff Writer
Apr 20 2010 14:45


WELLINGTON Phoenix will be playing in the A-League until at least the end of the 2015/16 season after the Asian and Oceania Football Confederations hammered out a new deal.

The five-year licence extension ends speculation about the New Zealand-based club's future over concerns about it taking part in a competition in a different country and confederation beyond the 2010/11 season.

OFC president Reynald Temarii met with AFC counterpart Mohamed Bin Hamam at a FIFA meeting in Zurich last month, with both confederation bosses agreeing Phoenix's licence to play in the Hyundai A-League should be extended.

Phoenix will now be able to play in the A-League till at least the end of the 2015/16 season under current licence conditions.

"This is great news," said Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata. "We've cleared this hurdle in terms of extending the club's participation in the Hyundai A-League and we're going to be around for many years to come."

Phoenix's cause had been strongly supported by the FFA and chairman Frank Lowy, as well as by New Zealand Football and the Oceania Confederation.

"It was a major issue and there was a lot of work that had to be done behind the scenes," said Pignata.

"There was a lot of lobbying by the FFA, New Zealand Football and Oceania and we're very grateful to them for their support.

"Since joining the competition in 2007 we've shown we're worthy of remaining involved long-term."

Formal ratification of the agreement will come at FIFA's executive committee meeting in Johannesburg in June.

Pignata said Phoenix could now get on with planning for the future.

"While we had this issue there was uncertainty hanging over us and the fans regarding how long we would be around," he said.

"Now that it's been resolved we can get on with the job of continuing the great strides that have been made building a strong and successful club."

Club owner Terry Serepisos was pleased the issue had been resolved.

"My ambition for Phoenix has always been long-term," he said. "It's fantastic that as a club we can now put any doubts or uncertainty around the future behind us."

However the club's future involvement in the Asian Champions League has yet to be resolved.

A club spokesman added: "As this deal stands, it is for the A-League only. However, it is an important step toward sorting out the ACL issue."

 

[ryan]

Good stuff