"The recent earthquake around the Wellington area is believed to have unnerved several of the players wives, with at least one having already left the country. Unhappy wife? Unhappy life. In addition, the relationship between Merrick and Roly Bonevacia (another talent yet to register a goal this season), is believed to have soured in recent weeks.
"More worryingly, the sword of Damocles continues to hang over the clubs continued participation in the A-League. It's only ten months since FFA agreed a structured licence extension, dependent upon the Welnix Group (the clubs owners) fulfilling certain KPI's at regular intervals.
"In the pre-agreement discussions, FFA CEO David Gallop went so far as to say the Phoenix could not simply "squat on a licence" - outlining key "metrics" that were in need of improvement, such as crowds, TV ratings and memberships.
"Almost a year later, the 'Nix are averaging 7,744, the second lowest in the competition, having hosted the league's top two clubs, Sydney FC and Melbourne City, along with the Newcastle Jets. Their membership numbers are the lowest in the league (4,953), and head of commercial, Nathan Godfrey, recently departed to pursue an opportunity in rugby. The club operates with one of the lowest full-time staffs in the A-League.
"All of which makes their next coaching appointment crucial."
Hill wrote that current All Whites coach Anthony Hudson could come under consideration, claiming the Englishman applied for the Central Coast Mariners job and "is understood to be keen to get back to day-to-day involvement with players - although any move for him could lead to further conflict with the NZFA, a relationship that isn't the best to start with".
"Combining the two jobs was something Ricki Herbert did for a while - an experiment that probably won't be repeated."
Hill believed the more likely candidates were his Fox Sports colleague Mark Rudan, a successful coach at State League level and Auckland City coach Ramon Tribuletx.
"Tribuletx deserves to be in the frame for his feats with Auckland City. While operating in the A-League is vastly different from New Zealand's national league, Tribuletx's teams play a good brand of football, and he might be a good fit to take the 'Nix on to the next level."
"Luciano Trani, Mike Mulvey, Ross Aloisi, Brett Angell and of course, current caretakers Chris Greenacre and Des Buckingham are the other names being mentioned in dispatches - but whatever option the Phoenix chooses to take, it's clear the club are at a crossroads.
"If Wellington (and indeed New Zealand) is to remain involved in the A-League, there needs to be a plan to take the club forward on AND off the pitch.
"Because another wooden spoon would only intensify the clamour from this side of the Tasman, to rid the A-League of its Kiwi connections.
Hill still regarded Merrick's departure as "a surprise".
"While nobody expected Phoenix to be pacesetters this season, their slump to the bottom of the ladder wasn't anticipated either. Any strike force boasting Roy Krishna, Kosta Barbarouses, Gui Finkler and Michael McGlinchey seemed sure to offer more than just nuisance value," he wrote.
"Yet of that quartet, only Krishna has fired this term, and while international call-ups (plus an injury to McGlinchey), haven't helped, it's been a disappointing return from three players who have netted 68 A-League goals between them.
"Defensively, the 'Nix haven't been too bad. They've only been truly thumped by Victory, and it's fair to say if Krishna's penalty had gone in against Adelaide on Sunday, the outcome could have been different. Similarly, they were unfortunate in Melbourne last week, when City were allowed to get away with persistently fouling Finkler, and obtained a rather dubious penalty to seal a 2-1 win. Fine margins."
