They left Wellington mid-morning with embattled businessman Terry Serepisos still in control and arrived in Tauranga little more than an hour later to news they had a new paymaster.
But if the Wellington Phoenix were shedding any tears at Serepisos' hasty exit from the helm of the club he helped create they were doing it in the confines of their central city hotel.
The Phoenix touched down in Tauranga for tomorrow's A-League pre-season clash with Central Coast Mariners to news Serepisos' desperate bid to hang on to the club under mounting debt had failed and he had relinquished control of the A-League licence to a group of Wellington businessmen.
The new owners, originally dubbed the Phoenix Five, actually number seven. They are headed by Kiwibank chairman Rob Morrison and also include Gareth Morgan, Lloyd Morrison, Campbell Gower, James Brown, Henry Tait and Lib Petagna. A new licence has been given to a company called Wellnix Ltd.
Serepisos' demise - he has crippling debts of more than $200million - will give clarity to the club, players and fans after weeks of speculation, although All Whites defender Tony Lochhead said they had been gagged from saying anything about the sudden change in ownership.
"We've had a meeting and been told not to say anything so I'd better not - all we really need to worry about right now is training and playing," Lochhead said.
He wasn't completely without humour, however, the Tauranga local quick to correct himself after using the term "money in the bank" to describe the increased pre-season playing hours he's getting as he continues his rehabilitation from a groin injury. "Minutes in the bank might be a better way to describe it - money's probably not the right word right now," Lochhead said with a laugh.
The Phoenix are due to kick off the new A-League season on October 9 and the club still have only 17 players, although former Perth Glory defender Brent Griffiths has joined them in Tauranga on trial in their last hitout hoping to impress coach Ricki Herbert.
"Brent only arrived this week in time for one training session," Lochhead said, "and it was quite intense so it was hard to tell what he's like without getting on the park.
"Sunday's a good chance for him to have a crack at a spot on the team and hopefully it works out because we're a few short of that 20 [minimum] right now."
Lochhead is painstakingly working his way back to full fitness after spending a significant amount of last season's A-League sidelined with torn left adductor. A foundation member of the Phoenix, he said the elongated pre-season had given him plenty of time to get his groin right.
"Everyone's keen to start playing some games but the extended offseason has worked out good for me, giving me time to strengthen everything. I'm feeling better than I have for a while. Coming off two operations it was tough last season to come in halfway through the year and go from nothing to straight back in.
"I've played a part in most of our pre-season games and I'm not there yet but I'm close to being 100 per cent."
It has been more than a decade since Lochhead last played in Tauranga, with tomorrow the Phoenix's first game in Tauranga. They are coming off a 2-2 draw with Melbourne Heart while the Mariners beat Perth Glory 1-0 in their last pre-season outing.
Mariners head coach Graham Arnold said his team's two-match tour of New Zealand (they also play Auckland City) was an opportunity for his side to gel in the lead up to their opener.
"Tours are always good because it gives everyone the opportunity to bond as a group. We'll have the opportunity to sit down with the players and work on things we perhaps wouldn't have time to when we are at home."
TEAMS
Wellington Phoenix (from): Mark Paston, Tony Warner, Jimmy Downey, Brent Griffiths, Andrew Durante, Tony Lochhead, Ben Sigmund, Nikolas Tsattalios, Leo Bertos, Tim Brown, Daniel, Vince Lia, Manny Muscat, Lucas Pantelis, Dani Sanchez, Chris Greenacre, Paul Ifill, Mirjan Pavlovic. Coach: Ricki Herbert.
Central Coast Mariners (from): Justin Pasfield, Mathew Ryan, Padj Bojic, Sam Gallagher, Rostyn Griffiths, Josh Rose, Trent Sainsbury, Alex Wilkinson, Patrick Zwaanswijk, Mustafa Amini, Oliver Bozanic, Troy Hearfield, John Hutchinson, Brad McDonald, Michael McGlinchey, Adriano Pellegrino, Bradley Porter, Michael Baird, Bernie Ibini-Isei, Adam Kwasnik, Daniel McBreen, Matt Simon. Coach: Graham Arnold.
Kickoff: 2.30pm
Curtain-raiser: Tauranga City United under-15 v Otumoetai under-15.