Phoenix Live On

Wellington Phoenix will remain in the A-League until the end of the 2015-16 season. Doubt over the team’s future emerged in November last year when AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam said he did not support the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) club remaining in the Australian competition beyond 2011. But the Phoenix’s case had been strongly supported by the FFA and chairman Frank Lowy, as well as by New Zealand Football and the Oceania confederation. “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 A-League and we’re going to be around for many years to come.” New Zealand’s only fully professional football club reached new heights in its third season, reaching the A-League’s preliminary final before losing to eventual champions Sydney FC in March.