The Wellington Phoenix continue to search for that elusive first win of the season after they were held to a 0-0 draw by the Western Sydney Wanderers at Westpac Stadium today.

Progress remains slow and steady under new Wellington Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick.

When Jeremy Brockie is in a Wellington Phoenix shirt, he just can't stop scoring goals.

First and foremost Ernie Merrick is an educator. His journey as a football coach and an educator has brought him to Wellington and he conducted his first full training session outdoors with the Phoenix today and ran it so his players would learn something.

Some Phoenix fans might be underwhelmed by the appointment of Ernie Merrick - but chances are they won't be for long.

In the end, Ernie Merrick's knowledge of the A-League proved invaluable.

Having achieved almost all there was to in their debut A-League season.

Mark Paston says the grind of training and the toll it took on his body eventually wore him down as the goalkeeper finished up his professional career.

Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Mark Paston has announced his retirement from professional football.

Four into two won't go as two teams will find out when the last round of the A-League season plays out over Easter.

Images of the A-League clash between the Wellington Phoenix and Newcastle Jets.

If the struggling franchise want to qualify for the uber-generous finals series that the A-League offers up, then the next eight days will decide their fate.

An All Whites win in their final home Fifa World Cup qualifier, against New Caledonia at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on March 22, would give coach Ricki Herbert's side a big boost on the road to Brazil.