Phoenix want NZFC spot for reserves

Wellington Phoenix is very pleased to enter a team in the NZFC to the edge of the talented young players and play regular football.

Currently, they are the only A-League clubs that do not have a new team in the League of Youth and desperate to have a backup team to help build depth.

This idea is still in infancy, but the club are very happy to discuss further with New Zealand Soccer, the possibility to make changes to the national league for next season on the back of the grave problems with the NZFC.

"We clearly need a second team and if we can not play in the [A-League] youth NZFC competition will be good choice," Wellington chief executive Tony Pignata said.

"The FFA (Football Federation Australia) will be happy for us to play in local competitions and will play many local cheaper than flying to Australia every two weeks.

"If we are given a place, we will be happy to relinquish the right to play in the O-League if we win the league. We have a squad of 23 weeks so that every six or seven miss - this is a good opportunity to give their game time."

NZF need to change the rules that professionals play in an amateur competition and overcome the problem of registration counters with national agencies from New Zealand and Australia.

"By providing they play is something that we will see for next season," NZF chief executive Michael Glading said, "but there is a problem because the amateur league. But if there are no roads."