Soccer: Phoenix granted five-year extension

The Phoenix had its best season in the A-League this year. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Wellington Phoenix has been granted a five-year license extension to play in Australian football's A-League until at least the end of the 2015-2016 season.

Today's announcement by Football Federation Australia ended speculation over the future of the Phoenix, caused by the Asian Football Confederation's apparent reluctance to have a team from the Oceania Confederation continue in the Australian-based league.

The FFA, which governs the 10-team A-League, became a member of the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, while New Zealand remained part of the Oceania Confederation. AFC president Mohamed bin Hammam said in November he could not see an Oceania-based side continuing in the A-League beyond 2011.

The AFC's position apparently softened after a recent meeting between bin Hammam and OFC head Raynald Temarii, leading to the license extension announced Tuesday.

"This is great news," Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata said. "We've cleared this hurdle in terms of extending the club's participation in the A-League and we're going to be around for many years to come."

The Phoenix, New Zealand's only fully professional football club, had been strongly supported by FFA chairman Frank Lowy and by the Australian and Oceania governing bodies.

"It was a major issue and there was a lot of work that had to be done behind the scenes," Pignatas said.

"There was a lot of lobbying by the FFA, New Zealand Football and Oceania and we're very grateful to them for their support. Since joining the competition in 2007 we've shown we're worthy of remaining involved long-term."

The Phoenix had its best season in the A-League this year, reaching the preliminary final before being beaten by eventual champion Sydney FC.

"While we had this issue there was uncertainty hanging over us and the fans regarding how long we would be around," Pignata said. "Now that it's been resolved we can get on with the job of continuing the great strides that have been made building a strong and successful club."

The club's license extension requires the agreement of FIFA's executive committee, which will meet in Johannesburg in June.

Australia's national team qualified for the World Cup via the Asian confederation - after being Ocean's representative at Germany 2006 -- while New Zealand topped Oceanic qualifying and then beat Bahrain -- the fifth-place Asian team - in an intercontinental playoff to earn its spot at South Africa 2010.

- AP