Ben Old, another Aucklander at the Phoenix, has re-signed until 2027.
Bill Foley is buying a significant amount of teams, he will have access to be able to bring certain players to a tournament within financial parameters because he can also promise players, that if they stay in a certain team for a few years he will move them. This is already happening now.
I think the competition will be great for NZ as well, a much better way to get more NZers up to international speed too
EDIT : Now add Hibs to the mix and the potential flow
@Bones I believe Kiwi teams are allowed unlimited Aussies, but Aussie teams are only allowed to have five non Aussies, so teams don't generally use these on Kiwis.
I'm sure as a result of this new team, you'll probably see a few of decent Kiwis to start with... Oli Sail to return, maybe a Tommy Smith and a Marco Rojas, but on top of that they'll need to fill their squad, and realistically to be competitive in the long run, both them and the Phoenix are competing for a select group of players, because the top Aussie players in the competition want to play in Aussie (Like with the Warriors in the NRL).
Of the Phoenix's main 18 sort of players, just over half are Kiwis. If you split that in half again, I struggle to see where enough talent is coming from, unless the Auckland team hauls in some top-end marquee players.
@Bones said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
@frugby hey, maybe more kiwi players will get to a higher level...
Well that would be the hope, and there is every chance that it all ends up working itself out, which would be really good. It could drive the Phoenix to be better, creating a genuine rivalry, which my spark up overall crowd sizes.
There is definitely enough Kiwi talent around to justify a second team. Currently a lot of guys having a crack in lower league Europe and even USA that could be tempted back if the $ and opportunity are right. Also the NZ National League is virtually ignored by the Phoenix of late as they are promoting from their own academy.
I can see guys like Logan Rogerson, Bill Tuiloma, Andre DeJong, Nik Tzanev/Stefan Marinovich being targeted by the new squad and whilst none have been setting the world on fire lately, all would have a point to prove and at the least would all make handy squad players at a minimum. Locally, you would think Francis DeVries and Cam Howieson would be high up a potential signing list and both would be A League starting team level.
Biggest concern would be the amount of time they have to get it all off the ground.
If he does put his money where his mouth is and get a genuine marquee like Sydney FC did years ago with Dwight Yorke and Alessandro Del Piero they could get some big buy in very early in the piece.
Easy for him to say it, but the thing that excites me the most is the talk about investing in facilities and infrastructure like stadia and training grounds etc. From a Northland local POV it was good to see him talk about Northland often in his open letter to the Northern Region clubs.
@Bones said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
@frugby hey, maybe more kiwi players will get to a higher level...
To me that can only be a good thing. More opportunities for more homegrown talent, more chances that we uncover a diamond who can go on the greater things
28 days later
The owner of the A-League's incoming Auckland franchise has promised to make a splash in the transfer market after signing Steve Corica as the club's inaugural coach.
Corica was announced as leader of the start-up side on Thursday, his first appointment since being sacked by Sydney FC earlier this year.
The 50-year-old has spent time overseas with Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat since his axing from the Sky Blues.
He will take charge of the as-yet-unnamed Auckland club for the 2024-25 season.
2 months later
Smart kit for Auckland FC
i like the idea, blue stripes are auckland, black is NZ and as @Bovidae it doesnt hurt having that similarity to Inter
Wimbledon released this kit and we have started a connection with Boca on the back of it
I also like the idea of giving it a proper club name (Auckland FC)...but just mentioning a nickname (Black Knights)...so they can embrace it when it suits but ditch it if it becomes cringy
@Machpants said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
Smart kit for Auckland FC
When they are lying rolling about on the ground after being tapped on the shin's, the shirts will look like Ponsonby rugby
When they are lying rolling about on the ground after being tapped on the shin's, the shirts will look like Ponsonby rugby
and Onewhero, Frankton and Thames.
@Machpants said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
Smart kit for Auckland FC
Cool to have another team from NZ in the A-League, hopefully both sides can push the Aussies on a regular. Phoenix are definitely doing that this year.
2 months later
No big names yet, but some Kiwis have signed.
Auckland FC have contracted three fringe All Whites and an under-23 international as the new A-League club’s first signings.
The Black Knights unveiled goalkeeper Michael Woud, 25, fullback Francis de Vries, 29, midfielder Cameron Howieson, 29, and forward Jesse Randall, 21, at Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter on Thursday.
And Tommy Smith, who played for Macarthur this season.
Goalkeepers: Michael Woud
Defenders: Francis de Vries, Tommy Smith
Midfielders: Cam Howieson
Forwards: Max Mata, Jesse Randall
Seen some speculation that they've got 14 players signed and are planning to slowly announce names over the next few weeks.
Howieson was a perennial subject of phoenix rumours and speculation, so looking forward to seeing how he goes in the a league.
No Aussies or imports yet, so probably saving them for last. Corica will be tapping into the Sydney football market.
4 months later
Enjoyed that, haven't really followed the A League since the Knights folded in 2007.
Nice to have a local team to support.
@African-Monkey I'm not a football guy but even I might follow them. Especially since they play in Ponsonby Rugby colors!
@Daffy-Jaffy said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
@African-Monkey I'm not a football guy but even I might follow them. Especially since they play in Ponsonby Rugby colors!
Join the party mate haha.
Must've been a lot of unused freebies in that 'sold out' crowd.
Great to see Akl back in the A League but it was a hard watch at times. Pretty low standard of football.
@dogmeat said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
Must've been a lot of unused freebies in that 'sold out' crowd.
Great to see Akl back in the A League but it was a hard watch at times. Pretty low standard of football.
The A League must be no stronger than the English 3rd division
I haven't watched much A League TBH but I would say Saturday's game was mid League 2 standard. Maybe the top sides would be League 1 I can't really comment - but hey the Fern....
@canefan said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
@dogmeat said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
Must've been a lot of unused freebies in that 'sold out' crowd.
Great to see Akl back in the A League but it was a hard watch at times. Pretty low standard of football.
The A League must be no stronger than the English 3rd division
Yeah, would compare it to league 1. I went to a league 1 game earlier in the season (Charlton v Leyton Orient), it was probably the same standard style wise, maybe slightly better than that but not much better.
@dogmeat said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
I haven't watched much A League TBH but I would say Saturday's game was mid League 2 standard. Maybe the top sides would be League 1 I can't really comment - but hey the Fern....
Mid league 2 standard is a lot worse than that haha.
@African-Monkey said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
A late late winner leaves us 2 from 2 and top of the league!
Up the port!
The Phoenix will take top spot next week. 
@African-Monkey See how you go when you have to play away from home. COYN
@Bovidae said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
I loved the Phoenix's fly-by sign over Mt Smart.
Great marketing.
@Bovidae said in Auckland A-League football team in 2024:
I loved the Phoenix's fly-by sign over Mt Smart.
Created by all 3000 Phoenix fans. Fair play.
@African-Monkey Says the club full of bandwagon jumpers see how much of a crowd they get towards the end of the season be like the Knights and get 500 a game if lucky. The Nix average at least 6000 a game.