Soccer: NZF goes in to bat for Phoenix

New Zealand Football will lobby Fifa at the end of the month to allow the Wellington Phoenix to enter a team in a revamped national league.

The Phoenix are disadvantaged by the fact they are prevented from playing in the A-League's youth league, which is effectively a league for each club's fringe players topped up by youngsters.

It means the likes of David Mulligan haven't played a club game all season and others returning from injury are thrust straight back into the top side. Perhaps most significantly, it means the club find it hard to keep promising youngsters like Costa Barbarouses, who recently signed with Brisbane for next season because of lack of game time.

Last year the Phoenix sought entry into the NZFC, but this proved too difficult because of Fifa's rules which don't allow professionals to play in amateur competitions and some opposition from existing NZFC franchises.

But NZF have undergone an exhaustive competition's review and want the Phoenix involved in a revamped 10-team national league.

They will announce their regulations in a week and have taken out the clause which required all franchises to agree to the Phoenix being allowed to take part.

"We will take control of this option rather than everyone having to buy into it," NZF chief executive Michael Glading said. "We realise this won't be universally popular but we believe we have to act in the best interests of the game and we want to clear the way to explore this option."

It means NZF will ask for a legal ruling from Fifa about whether the Phoenix reserves can play in an amateur league. This is a major hurdle that many believe is impossible to navigate but Glading thought Fifa were "sympathetic".

"They understand we have a unique situation here," he said. "I think there is a willingness within Fifa and the FFA [Football Federation Australia] for it to happen."

Under NZF's plan, the Phoenix reserves would join the existing eight franchises and one new entrant in an expanded 10-team league. They would be able to win the competition - there had been a suggestion they could play friendlies as a way to get around the amateur/professional hurdle - but would be ineligible to play in the O-League.

The most likely addition would be a team from South Auckland, possibly with All Whites assistant Brian Turner at the helm. North Shore are also exploring whether to seek entry, along with two clubs in Tauranga. Formal applications will be called for at the end of the month.

There is some concern Manawatu could opt out because of financial issues, but Glading said he received assurance from all eight existing clubs they would reapply.

Opposition from clubs to the Phoenix reserves joining this year's competition centred around Wellington stacking their side for certain games, but Glading said he was happy to write regulations that would offer some protection - like allowing only two players who played more than 60 minutes for the A-League side the week before.

Wellington chief executive Tony Pignata said it was crucial they had a reserve team for them to remain competitive, but of more concern was securing a new 10-year licence for the club. "If we don't have a licence, then we don't have a club," he said.

The FFA and Oceania Football Confederation will meet with Fifa and Asian officials next month about a new licence.