Soccer: Phoenix give up reserve strategy

The Wellington Phoenix have given up on the idea of entering a reserve team in the NZFC but are optimistic about a second side playing regularly.

The Phoenix are the only A-League club without a reserve team which would allow fringe players regular game time and others coming back from injury the chance to get match fit.

A lack of game time was a principal reason Costa Barbarouses signed a three-year deal with Brisbane Roar when he had an offer to remain in Wellington. Likewise, David Mulligan played only three games in two seasons, the last of those in August 2008.

The Phoenix had hoped to gain a spot in the NZFC next season but difficulties over professionals playing in an amateur competition have not been overcome.

They are not among the 10 applicants to play in the league - all eight existing clubs plus two more bids have been received - and aren't likely to push the case further.

"It's not going to happen," Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata said. "All the parties are willing - Football Federation Australia, New Zealand Football and us - but the biggest stumbling block is Fifa.

"I'm not going to go to Fifa to push the issue because they have just given us a five-year A-League licence extension."

Instead, Pignata has been in discussions with NZF about playing midweek games against NZFC sides, with the Phoenix most likely to be the travelling team. Discussions are in the early stages and haven't yet been held with NZFC clubs.

"As long as they are competitive games, that's fine," Pignata said. "It's better than what we have at the moment, anyway."

It would have cost about $300,000 to enter a team in the NZFC. Phoenix owner Terry Serepisos has come under considerable scrutiny regarding his finances in recent times and would presumably welcome a cheaper alternative to the NZFC.

Pignata said they are hopeful of breaking even as a club next season and also hope to get a sponsor for the reserves team on board to ensure that it is "cost-neutral".

The Phoenix still plan to contract 20 players for the first team next season - 17 are currently on the books - meaning the remainder of a reserves team could be made up of trialists.

The Phoenix players return tomorrow for pre-season training, including All Whites Leo Bertos, Tim Brown, Mark Paston, Tony Lochhead and Ben Sigmund and coach Ricki Herbert. They have been involved in a pre-World Cup camp in Auckland for Australasian-based players.

There are no plans to play any pre-season games offshore because of the disruption of the World Cup.