The New Zealand franchise is deadly serious about making an assault on the A-League during the forthcoming campaign. Success should theoretically lead to a spot in Asia or should that be Oceania?

As it stands the club says it is caught between a rock and a hard place because of the slightly unusual nature of its chosen competition.

A New Zealand team playing in an Australian league seems acceptable to Fifa but it will currently not accept a member of Oceania competing in an Asian Federation tournament.

No problem then. The Phoenix can just compete in the World Club Championship can’t they? Apparently not.

Wellington’s chief executive officer Tony Pignata told au.fourfourtwo.com: “I think it’s fair to say we’re in no man’s land on this.

“We are ambitious as a club and feel that we should have the same opportunities open to us as anyone else.

“I think it is something we will look to speak to the FFA about and see if they can assist us and talk to Asia.”

Before the Phoenix can dream of the ACL, they have to secure A-League success and their latest attempts to help bring that about are being frustrated.

The club wants to sign Hartlepool United striker Joel Porter and it appeared as though a three-year deal was all but done. That was until the English club decided to exercise its option on the player’s contract and trigger a new one-year deal.

The matter is now in the hands of the Professional Footballers’ Association.
Pignata said: “We’re trying to see whether there can be any options. He wants to come, he’s agreed to terms and we’re happy to move forward. He wants to move and accept an offer on his house, so it’s a messy one.”