Football Federation Australia (FFA) announced last week it would not give the Wellington Phoenix another 10-year licence to play in the A-League.
The remaining Australian nine clubs have all signed on until 2034 while as it stands, the Phoenix will run out of time at the end of this season. A token four-year extension has been offered.
Let's be clear - the FFA owe the Phoenix nothing. Chief executive David Gallop is right when he says they have to do what is in the best interests of Australian football.
But what is most confusing and a touch insulting is that the business case for giving the 'Nix the boot doesn't seem to stack up, even considering the interests of Australian football.
And remember, the Australian clubs, fans and players have come out in support of retaining the Phoenix.
But back to Gallop's metrics - "FFA has carefully evaluated the role and contribution of the Wellington franchise in terms of game development, player pathway, commercial factors, broadcast rights and the long-term strategic outlook".
And, the Phoenix club "does not meet the requirements we see as fundamental to the future growth of the Hyundai A-League".
Player pathway? Well, there's Shane Smeltz, Kosta Barbarouses, Marco Rojas. Three players who came to the A-League via Wellington and have developed, made a contribution to the Phoenix, and actually more so to Australian clubs.
Paul Ifill, one of the A-League's early stars, came to this part of the world courtesy again of the 'Nix. Roly Bonevacia is following the same path. Australian football only had the Phoenix to thank for returning striker Nathan Burns to form for the Socceroos' Asian Cup campaign earlier this year.
Broadcast rights is the one point the FFA may be able to argue, but the details are hard to come by.
Would an extra Sydney team in place of the Phoenix make a difference to the FFA's cash haul?
Or does the potential market of four million-plus provided by New Zealand give more room to grow?
Back the Phoenix, FFA, and you might get some payback.
This is also where Sky can play their part by putting in a reasonable offer when the next TV deal is done. It's the least they owe New Zealand football fans.
Commercial factors? If that is club membership and attendance figures, then it's disingenuous to say the Phoenix don't pull their weight.
Yes, the Phoenix are at the lower end of the league but surely that hurts the Phoenix more than anyone.
There is no group who want to see those figures grow more than the Wellington club itself.
Still, for all intents and purposes they match all but the biggest three clubs - Sydney FC, Victory and Wanderers.
Game development? It's something the Phoenix have made huge strides in over recent years.
Setting up an academy, getting a reserve team into the national league and a youth team into the central league.
All of the above done in the face of obstacles no Australian club has to negotiate.
Thirteen international flights a year for games. Barred from the Champions League. Barred from playing home FFA Cup games in New Zealand.
No team in the A-League's youth system. No local derby game. Based in a small city in a rugby-dominated country.
Could another club be pushed into the suburbs and build a temporary stadium on the local field and make a success of it like the Phoenix did last year?
And the desire to see the end of the 'Nix becomes even more perverse while the Phoenix remain stable in all aspects, from their squad to fans to finances. At the same time the FFA are propping up the Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar, who by the way have been given 20-year licences.
The huge support for the Phoenix shown by the managers, players and fans of other clubs in Australia should get the FFA thinking.
Whether the Welnix ownership group want to box on, who knows? Let's hope they do.
They've done too much groundwork and come too far to throw it away now. Success on and off the field is not far away.
It's time for them to show the fight they're demanding of the players and fans. Otherwise the sport in New Zealand will be thrown back two decades. #savethenix
