A third new team could enter football's A-League in 2020 with the demise of Wellington Phoenix seemingly inevitable unless the club drastically improves its off-field performance.
Andrew Durante of the Phoenix. Photo: Photosport
The formal commencement of the expansion process has added further pressure on the Phoenix, whose licence agreement expires at the end of season 2019-20 - the same season when two new teams will join the competition.
Further extensions will only occur if the club hits certain 'metrics' around attendances and increased broadcast rights.
If they don't, it paves the way for another expansion outfit to replace the Phoenix in season 2020-21.
Up to a dozen parties are expected to submit expressions of interest to Football Federation Australia, and it's understood at least two of them inquired last year as to whether Wellington's licence was up for sale.
A-League chief Greg O'Rourke confirmed to AAP that the Phoenix are currently below where they need to be to trigger a licence extension.
"They have metrics to hit, and we'll continue to work with Wellington Phoenix to see whether or not they're interested in improving their club to a point where those metrics become achievable," O'Rourke said.
Wellington were granted a 10-year extension in February 2016, but the last six years of that deal were conditional on reaching specific off-field benchmarks and also gaining the approval of FIFA, the Asia and Oceania confederations and New Zealand Football.
The Phoenix have averaged just 5,809 at their matches this season - the lowest attendance figure in the competition.
Their crowds have actually decreased by nearly 29 percent over the last three campaigns, despite having been effectively put on notice by FFA to improve them.
They have had a disastrous season on the field as well and are currently without a full-time coach.
- AAP
