The consortium of seven Wellington businessmen, headed by Rob Morrison and Gareth Morgan, were granted the five-year licence by Football Federation Australia last week ending months of uncertainty caused by previous owner Terry Serepisos' massive financial problems.

Several of the new owners met with the players and Herbert on Thursday and the coach said the discussions had been very positive.

"There would be a very open view on where the club is going to be heading over that longer period and what that might look like as far as further recruitment goes," Herbert said.

"But it's very positive. We'll be what we are with what we've got at the moment and I understand that. But I think the plans at the club are very exciting as well."

With the club's future guaranteed, and just a week out from the start of the new season, Herbert is hoping to have his roster complete by next Tuesday with further signings possible after that.

The Phoenix coach still needs two players to reach the required minimum of 20 ahead of their opener against Gold Coast on October 9 and has two under-21 players and a midfielder lined up.

"The ink is drying on a few contracts now," he said. "Two of them are under-21 players and one is a player who I know well."

Wellington signed ex-Perth Glory defender Brent Griffiths on Friday and he will provide cover for experienced centre-backs Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund.

Injuries to Lucas Pantelis (knee) and Mirjan Pavlovic (broken arm) had further complicated matters for Herbert and he confirmed on Friday the club were looking at injury replacements for the pair.

"The two getting injured is not great timing for us," Herbert conceded. "But I'm sure other clubs have had problems as well. We'll deal with it.

"We are looking at injury replacements and that may happen next week as well."

The months of uncertainty have certainly not helped the Phoenix's preparations for the new campaign.

While the likes of Sydney and Melbourne Victory have been trumpeting the arrival of Brett Emerton and Harry Kewell, Wellington's preparations have been hamstrung by the turmoil off the field.

But the core of the team that has reached back-to-back finals series has been retained and it is the vast majority of those who are expected to start against Gold Coast next weekend.

"We've got some stability," said Herbert. "But clubs have added (to their squads) and there are different dimensions with different franchises, so those challenges are probably going to be a little bit tougher for us.

"But that's what we've got. The healthy thing is that there is a professional football club and over the next five years it has a chance to build and be arguably one of the best, if not the best, in the A-League."