Soccer: Phoenix feel the pressure

Phoenix players, from left, Vince Lia, Luke Adams, Michael Boxall and Andrew Durante pay tribute to the crowd after their final match of the season on Saturday night, a 4-1 loss to the Melbourne Victory. Photo / Getty Images

Captain rues unsettling line-up changes as rollercoaster season ends on low note.

As Andrew Durante sat back and talked about the final game of the Wellington Phoenix' season, he looked drained. This campaign has been tiring, and the captain has had to piggyback his side more than he would have liked during Ernie Merrick's first year in charge.

For all of Durante's good work, Wellington finished ninth, a position that seems slightly unfair given how good they looked during the middle of their campaign. But it was a reflection of how much the league has improved around them.

Injuries, suspensions and inconsistent form meant Durante was regularly surrounded by different players as he clocked 2340 minutes for the Phoenix this season, playing 26 of their 27 games.

"There have been so many changes every week," Durante said. "You look around the pitch and there's someone different playing alongside me or further up the field, and it's unsettling, especially when the people you are putting there are young and inexperienced."

Wellington wrapped up their season with a 4-1 loss to the Melbourne Victory in Wellington on Saturday night, conceding a league-worst 51 goals this summer.

"Every season's emotional. I've got to try and lead the team and find ways to try and help motivate and get the team firing," Durante said.

"So I take a lot of that on my shoulders and I go home and think about it quite a lot, so it's been difficult. We've conceded a lot of goals and I'm at the back and I take that pretty hard, so it's draining in that sense."

Wellington's season can be split into three clear parts as they failed to win a game in their first 10 contests, then enjoyed a strong run of form, but flopped in the final third.

Merrick will now make some quick calls regarding off-contract players and he got the ball rolling yesterday with confirmation that striker Stein Huysegems and veteran utility Leo Bertos won't be back next season.

"I know Stein will be a very competitive player wherever he ends up and if we have to face him I expect him to give us a tough time," Merrick said.

Finding quality midfielders and another striker are top priorities for Merrick, who will now look to the free-agent market.