Phoenix fly in for finale

WELLINGTON Phoenix will head for Australia today to try to complete the ALeague season, after getting government approval to train while they serve a 14day isolation period.

An immediate hurdle to plans to race through the rest of the A-League season was cleared when Phoenix confirmed their whole playing squad and coaching staff will decamp to Sydney and play their remaining games on neutral territory.

In a sign of the constantly changing nature of the outbreak’s effect on the game, Wellington will be allowed to isolate as a group and continue their normal training routines, with the aim being for them to resume competitive matches when their isolation period ends.

With Melbourne Victory also in isolation, the other nine teams will start playing games immediately with the shortest possible interval between them over the next month, in the hope of being able to finish the season before an A-League player tests positive for COVID-19.

Wellington boss Ufuk Talay had wanted the competition suspended, but the club recognised that was not an option.

Under plans formulated quickly yesterday, Phoenix will be based at an unnamed sports base in the Sydney region which was described as relatively isolated and which Phoenix general manager David Dome said had been approved by the Department of Health.

“We have discussed this among ourselves, consulted with health professionals and government bodies in Australia and New Zealand and taken all possible precautions to ensure those travelling are given the best protection possible,” he said.