The Australian announced he would be departing the club to return to Melbourne during the week.

Along with coach Ricki Herbert, Pignata has overseen great progress in the game in New Zealand.

After failed ventures including the Auckland Kingz and New Zealand Knights, Pignata believes the Phoenix was the last chance for success.

"I think the Phoenix was the last chance football had in New Zealand.

"I am not sure they [the Kingz and Knights] channelled enough into the community. The way I wanted to run a club is that it's not all about the players playing. I mean not everyone can kick goals. Even the car park attendant at the stadium - everyone plays a part," Pignata told the New Zealand Herald.

He admitted he had disagreed with owner Terry Serepisos over some matters, but there was never a fallout between the pair.

"We have had our fair share of issues but it can't all be one-sided. I appreciate he stood up on certain things like whether we should have certain players.

"But we have never had any big fallouts, never. Sometimes he might say 'how about this player' and I would say 'I don't think so'. I get the final say-so but we always got on very well," Pignata said.

He described Serepisos as an "honest guy" who "admitted he had no idea of football and how to run it but [he] built a good team around him".