After A-League side Wellington Phoenix agreed to terms of a four-year license with Football Federation Australia, a top-tier club based in Sydney's southern suburbs "will not enter the A-League for at least another four seasons," according to Dominic Bossi of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. A third team to be based in Sydney was lined-up to replace Wellington Phoenix as early as October but the New Zealand club has accepted a renewed offer from the FFA that guarantees its existence at least until the '20 season, "albeit with strict provisions." Australia's 17-year link with football in New Zealand "appeared set to be cut at the end of the season when the Phoenix's deal was due to expire." However, Wellington's owners negotiated a "heavily incentivised deal that could ensure their long-term survival pending their off-field performance." It is understood that a minimum four-year license has been agreed upon by both parties with "built-in extension clauses that could amount to a total of 10 years should the club meet high commercial targets." The Phoenix ownership consortium -- the Welnix group -- criticized the "lack of incentive to invest in a club and negotiated a tiered structured licence of a minimum four years with two separate three-year extensions." Under the new deal, the FFA will impose "strict and conditional requirements" relating to memberships, attendances, TV viewers and broadcast revenue for the club. If the Phoenix meet the targets by the '19-20 season, the club will "automatically be approved for a three-year renewal." The club will "again have to pass commercial benchmarks" to receive another three-year extension in season '22-23. All extensions "will require" FIFA, Oceania Football Confederation and Asia Football Confederation approval (SMH, 1/17).
