On fire ... Wellington celebrate their victory over Perth at the weekend (Getty)
New Zealand’s only professional club has become the success story of the A-League on and off the field.
However, Phoenix's stunning achievements this season have caused concern at Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
“The AFC basically wants us out of the A-League but we’ve reached a stage now where we need to know our future and we want answers,” frustrated Phoenix chief executive Tony Pignata said.
“All we’ve been told for months is to be patient but we need to know where we stand beyond 2011 because without knowing our future it is very difficult to secure players and sponsors.
“The pressure is building because time is running out. It would be very hard for players, staff and sponsors to come on board if they don’t know what our long-term future holds."
Phoenix are a unique club in that they not only play outside their New Zealand association but also outside their Oceania confederation.
The AFC also would have been unimpressed by Phoenix providing the bulk of the All Whites' team that defeated Bahrain in a playoff last year for a place in the 2010 World Cup.
“We’ve got one more season in the A-League, which was granted to us by FIFA," Pignata said.
“Yet what we want above all else is an A-League licence for 10 years beyond 2011 and I reckon we deserve it after what we have achieved this season."
The AFC wants Phoenix to become an Australian club and regard its New Zealand players as foreigners from 2012.
Failure of the A-League to comply with the AFC’s wishes would mean that Australian clubs will be banned from taking part in the lucrative AFC Champions League.
“The key issue is that if they do allow us to play in the A-League as an Australian-registered club after 2011 all Kiwis will have to be considered foreigners and we don’t want that," Pignata explained.
“A-League rules stipulate that New Zealand boys are treated as locals.
“If we qualify for the 2011 Asian Champions League I would have no problem following their ‘three foreigners rule’ because we would adjust to that.”
The prospect of Phoenix representing Australia in Asia’s biggest club competition has become less fanciful the last few weeks as Ricki Herbert’s side surged towards a knockout semi-final against Newcastle Jets on Sunday 7 March.
However, the terms of Phoenix’s agreement of affiliation with the A-League forbid the club from taking part in the ACL.
So what will happen if Phoenix reach this year’s grand final against Sydney FC?
The Sky Blues are already qualified after having won the Premiers’ Plate.
So which other team would represent Australia in the ACL: the third placed team in the finals or the winners of a playoff?
