Barely 24 hours after toppling front-runners Brisbane Roar in a stylish 3-2 win, Wellington Phoenix are fighting for their A-League future.
The club’s request for a 10-year A-League licence was declined by the Football Federation of Australia, who instead offered the option of requesting a four-year licence until the end of the 2019/20 season.
There are arguments to be made for the Phoenix’s retention, the most compelling being the attractive brand of football the Ernie Merrick-coached side are now producing.
As well as providing a pathway for New Zealand players, the Phoenix have solidified and resurrected careers for a range of Australian footballers.
Most notable is striker Nathan Burns, whose 13-goal stint with the Phoenix la…
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