Phoenix set for chop?

A third new team could enter the A-League in 2020 with the demise of Wellington Phoenix seemingly inevitable unless the club drastically improves its off-field performance.

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, but not even Phoenix co-owner Gareth Morgan is optimistic about reaching them. If they don’t, it paves the way for another expansion outfit to replace the Phoenix in 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 said the Phoenix are currently below where they need to be to trigger a licence extension.