Australia NewsKiwis Win A-League Spot |
FFA have confirmed they have finally accepted Wellington's bid for the A-League spot vacated by the troubled New Zealand Knights at the end of the 2006/7 season.
This afternoon's announcement, which ends weeks of speculation over who would win the franchise, puts the rival Towsnville bid on the back burner for the time being.FFA CEO Ben Buckley said: "I am very pleased to announce that following lengthy discussions, Football Federation Australia has granted New Zealand Soccer a three-year licence to participate in the Hyundai A-League.
"We are now satisfied that New Zealand Soccer and the Wellington-based consortium have the necessary financial capital and business plans to establish a viable football club in the New Zealand capital.
"The club can now officially begin the process of recruiting the coaching and playing staff that form the only fully professional football team in the region and continue the long standing Trans-Tasman rivalry with the other seven Australian-based clubs.
"FFA has always maintained the view that a New Zealand presence in the Hyundai A-League benefits not only the competition, but also the development of football in New Zealand and Oceania.
"As part of our move into the Asian Football Confederation in 2006, we remain committed to assisting the Oceania Football Confederation wherever possible."
FFA revoked the Knights' licence at the end of 2006 for breaching their Club Participation Agreement in the face of mounting debts and dismal attendance figures.
It then funded the remainder of Knights' A-League season after recruiting All Whites coach Ricki Herbert to coach the side for the final five rounds.
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