A-League side Wellington Phoenix "downplayed speculation" that it faces being axed from the A-League to make way for a fifth New South Wales team, according to the AAP. And talk of a new team -- possibly from the Sutherland Shire in southern Sydney -- "has been met with scepticism by Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold." A report claimed that Football Federation Australia "was examining the possibility of replacing the Phoenix, whose A-League licence expires at the end of the season, with another Sydney team as early as next year." An FFA spokesperson "declined to comment but denied the organisation had given any potential new candidates hope of entering the league." The Phoenix "dismissed talk of being dropped." GM David Dome said, "The FFA see the Phoenix as being one of the 10 teams in the A-League next year." FFA and Wellington’s owners, the Welnix group, "are currently in negotiations over extending the club’s tenure in the A-League." Dome said that "the main issue was the length of the licence, with the A-League offering five years and the club pushing for 10" (
AAP, 10/23).
