Unfathomable. Appalling. Spineless. Insane.
All words to describe the FFA's behaviour in declining the Wellington Phoenix an application for a 10-year A-League license.
The Wellington Phoenix are one of the most stable clubs in the league, they spend within their means and have an ownership group passionate about taking the club forward.
Their desire to take the club forward has now been taken out of their hands. Football Federation Australia (FFA) have slapped them in the face with a 'stay of execution' offer of a four-year license.
If they refuse to give the Phoenix 10 years, but will give them four, why would the club think they have any future beyond that?
A four-year license will get them nowhere, there is no ability to engage in long-term planning to take the club forward. Plans for purpose-built training facilities, a women's team and bringing top European clubs to New Zealand will all be binned.
All plans that were genuine are no longer. So what's the point? What can you do in four years?
The Welnix ownership group must think the same too, they are losing money doing this, four years is not time enough to turn things around. 'Flogging a dead horse' is how one owner referred to it as, which is dead right.
10 years gives them ample time to implement the plans they have to turn the club into a profitable and successful business. It's already a successful football club, but they want to turn it into a successful business.
It now appears there will be no Wellington Phoenix in ten years, and the likelihood of there being a Phoenix in one year looks extremely remote at best.
Why would they? What's in it for them? They saved football in this country when they took control of the club in 2011, and now it looks like the FFA are going to kill it.
Which brings me to the FFA, who released a statement with no press conference, no interviews, and no chance to question their decision. There is no chance to get any reasoning for it. Where is the transparency?
The FFA have so many questions that need answering, after making what is, unquestionably, an absurd decision.
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