"It has been quite a turbulent time," agrees coach Ricki Herbert, "but it is still about the football club and we deal with situations as they present themselves. We have, as much as possible, been training and planning as normal."
While Herbert and captain Andrew Durante have continually refused to be drawn on how the Serepisos saga affected the playing group over the past few months, the waves of uncertainty must have had an impact. At least now there is a sense of starting afresh; of planning for the future with a future.
"I guess it is a steady ship now," concedes Herbert, "after it was previously a raft of ripples."
Five of the Welnix consortium visited training recently and were introduced to the players and coaching staff. While some of the seven will be more involved than others, their intention is to steadily get the franchise back on its feet and provide the funding for Herbert to go shopping in the January transfer window.
The failure to retain boom youngster Marco Rojas looks more unfortunate by the day. He was heavily involved in many of the Phoenix's best attacking moments at the back end of last season, providing a truckload of assists. That creative burden will fall back on Paul Ifill this season, who had a long absence through injury in the last campaign. Ifill and Englishman Chris Greenacre will also need to provide the lion's share of goals.
The Phoenix have retained the core of last season's side; apart from Rojas, the only other notable departures are Troy Hearfield (Central Coast Mariners), Jade North (Japan) and Dylan Macallister, who will be in the opposition today.
'Big Mac' will have a point to prove, as he was unwanted by the Phoenix despite notching seven goals in 14 games and impressing with his ability to lead the line.
"The basis of quality is there," says former All White Harry Ngata. "They still need an out-and-out goal-scorer, a creative midfielder and a centre back, while they certainly can't afford any more injuries."
Hopes are high for former Malaga player Dani Sanchez. The Spaniard was apparently recommended to the Phoenix by Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg, after Bleiberg invited him to trial but didn't sign him. The 26-year-old is slightly built but has most recently been playing in Scotland for Inverness Caledonian Thistle so should be able to handle the physicality of the A-League.
Gold Coast had the wood on the Phoenix in 2010-11, winning both matches at home and getting a 3-3 draw in Wellington, though both squads now have a substantially different look.
Gold Coast have lost Jason Culina, Bruce Djite and Dino Djulbic, while Shane Smeltz has taken his talents to Perth. But Bleiburg has a clutch of promising youngsters and they have gone through the pre-season undefeated.
Given Wellington's well documented woes on the road, allied with all their off-season drama, Herbert's side would surely settle for a point from today's encounter at Skilled Park.
