To see Phoenix fans in Sydney...

The club flew back late on Sunday licking their wounds after a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Sydney FC in Saturday night's entertaining A-League preliminary final at the SFS.

And despite a "hollow feeling" throughout the camp - soured even more so by the now infamous "Hand of Payne" incident - club CEO Tony Pignata is eyeing the club's future with confidence.

"We want our season tickets to double to around 5000 for next season. We want fans to get behind the team and come along for the journey," he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"We've had an amazing journey over the last 10 weeks and we want to keep that momentum going for the next season to come.

"Now we've got the respect we've always wanted from Australia and the media."

Pignata cited the travelling contingent of Phoenix fans at the SFS - estimated at around 1000 - as evidence that the team has cut through not only in New Zealand but in Australia too.

"We reckon next season we can average 10-12,000 and build from there," he said. "It helps the financial position of the club and in turn that makes us a stronger club.

"We're appreciative of the fans not only here in Sydney but nearly 20,000 in Christchurch and selling out Westpac for the finals game the week before. We're over the moon with their support."

FFA would also be over the moon with the Phoenix support base as the national governing body has reaped a financial bounty from the A-League finals games in Wellington. The matches pulled almost 60,000 fans for the two games with no prize money on offer either.

As for players, Pignata sounded resigned to losing keeper Liam Reddy although the former Roar keeper did return to Wellington with the rest of the squad.

"I think it will be difficult for the club to keep him," said Pignata of the rumoured to be Sydney FC bound Reddy.

"And we also want to find out what Jon McKain wants to do and Eugene Dadi's off contract too as is Adrian Caceres."

Pignata said that it was too early to name areas on the park that the club will look to strengthen. That process will be driven by which players will move on.

Phoenix are set to train down for the remainder of this week before a period of holidays. The players are expected back at pre-season training in early May.

Added Pignata: "We always said it would take three years to make the play-offs and we've achieved that. It's been an amazing journey for us."

To see Phoenix fans in Sydney...